Truth About Soy Part 2

                                       

                                                  (all Images are from here)

 Thank you for all the great feed back and comments regarding my post on "The Truth About Soy Part 1". From the emails and comments I received, I can see that Soy remains a topic people are concerned about. As I mentioned, make sure the Soy that you do consume is FERMENTED (predigested, probiotics, healthy and teaming with immune boosting benefits and bacteria). Fermenting 'neutralizes' the bad compounds and toxins. Fermented foods just may be the "miracle" food we are all looking for. Include plenty of fermented foods in your diet, such as: Sauerkraut, Kefir, Miso, Tempeh, Natto(over flowing with K2- amazing for cardiovascular and bone health), Soy Sauce, Tamari (this is my favorite).

  As promised, here is part 2 as summerized by the Weston A Price Foundation:

What Makes Soy Such a Risky Food to Eat?

Here is a summary of some of the problems/dangers associated with Soy *Non-Fermented Soy:

1.

91 percent of soy grown in the US is genetically modified (GM). The genetic modification is done to impart resistance to the toxic herbicide Roundup. While this is meant to increase farming efficiency and provide you with less expensive soy, the downside is that your soy is loaded with this toxic pesticide. The plants also contain genes from bacteria that produce a protein that has never been part of the human food supply.

GM soy has been linked to an increase in allergies. Disturbingly, the only published human feeding study on GM foods ever conducted verified that the gene inserted into GM soy transfers into the DNA of our gut bacteria and continues to function. This means that years after you stop eating GM soy, you may still have a potentially allergenic protein continuously being produced in your intestines.


Even more frightening is the potential for GM soy to cause infertility in future generations, which has been evidenced by recent Russian research.



2.Soy contains natural toxins known as “anti-nutrients.”

Soy foods contain anti-nutritional factors such as saponins, soyatoxin, phytates, protease inhibitors, oxalates, goitrogens and estrogens. Some of these factors interfere with the enzymes you need to digest protein. While a small amount of anti-nutrients would not likely cause a problem, the amount of soy that many Americans are now eating is extremely high.



3.Soy contains hemagglutinin.

Hemagglutinin is a clot-promoting substance that causes your red blood cells to clump together. These clumped cells are unable to properly absorb and distribute oxygen to your tissues.



4.Soy contains goitrogens

Goitrogens are substances that block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and interfere with iodine metabolism, thereby interfering with your thyroid function.



5.Soy contains phytates.

Phytates (phytic acid) bind to metal ions, preventing the absorption of certain minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc -- all of which are co-factors for optimal biochemistry in your body. This is particularly problematic for vegetarians, because eating meat reduces the mineral-blocking effects of these phytates (so it is helpful—if you do eat soy—to also eat meat).



6.Soy is loaded with the isoflavones genistein and daidzein

Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen, which is a plant compound resembling human estrogen. These compounds mimic and sometimes block the hormone estrogen, and have been found to have adverse effects on various human tissues. Soy phytoestrogens are known to disrupt endocrine function, may cause infertility, and may promote breast cancer in women.
We get enough phytoestrogens from our environment, body and plastics.
Drinking even two glasses of soymilk daily for one month provides enough of these compounds to alter your menstrual cycle. Although the FDA regulates estrogen-containing products, no warnings exist on soy.



7.Soy has toxic levels of aluminum and manganese
Soybeans are processed (by acid washing) in aluminum tanks, which can leach high levels of aluminum into the final soy product. Soy formula has up to 80 times higher manganese than is found in human breast milk.


8.Soy infant formula puts your baby’s health at risk.

Nearly 20 percent of U.S. infants are now fed soy formula, but the estrogens in soy can irreversibly harm your baby’s sexual development and reproductive health. Infants fed soy formula take in an estimated five birth control pills’ worth of estrogen every day.


Infants fed soy formula have up to 20,000 times the amount of estrogen in circulation as those fed other formulas!

There is also the issue of pesticides and genetic modification.

Soy foods are both heavily sprayed with pesticides and genetically modified (GM). More than 80 percent of the soy grown in the United States is GM. And more than 90 percent of American soy crops are GM.

Since the introduction of GM foods in 1996, we’ve had an upsurge in low birth weight babies, infertility, and other problems in the U.S. population, and animal studies thus far have shown devastating effects from consuming GM soy.



You may want to steer clear of soy products for no other reason than a commitment to avoiding GM foods... unless you wish to be a lab animal for this massive uncontrolled experiment by the biotech industry.

What Soy Products are Good For You?

 Soy can be incredibly healthful, but ONLY if it is organic and properly fermented.



After a long fermentation process, the phytate and “anti-nutrient” levels of soybeans are reduced, and their beneficial properties become available to your digestive system.


You may have heard that Japanese people live longer and have lower rates of cancer than Americans because they eat so much soy—but it’s primarily fermented soy that they consume, and it’s always been that way.

Fermented soy products are the only ones you should consume.



These are the primary fermented soy products you’ll find:



•Tempeh a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor.

•Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup).

•Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor.

•Soy sauce, which is traditionally made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes; be wary because many varieties on the market today are made artificially using a chemical process.

Please note that tofu is NOT on this list. Tofu is not fermented, so is not among the soy foods I recommend.



Vitamin K2: One of the Major Benefits of Fermented Soy

One of the main benefits of fermented soy, especially natto, is that it is the best food source of vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is essential to preventing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diseases of the brain such as dementia, and protecting you from various cancers including prostate, lung, liver cancer and leukemia.


Vitamin K acts synergistically with vitamin D to keep you healthy.


Vitamin K is sometimes referred to as the “forgotten vitamin” because its benefits are often overlooked. It was named after the word “Koagulation,” to reflect its essential role in blood clotting. In fact, the enzyme nattokinase—derived from natto—is safer and more powerful than aspirin in dissolving blood clots, and has been used safely for more than 20 years.

If you enjoy natto or some of the other fermented soy foods, you can get several milligrams of vitamin K2 from them each day (this level far exceeds the amount of vitamin K2 found even in dark green vegetables).
Here are some links toNATTO supplements.
Unfortunately, the health benefits of many of the fermented soy foods fall by the wayside because many Americans do not enjoy their flavor.

If you don’t want to consume natto to get your vitamin K2, the next best thing would be to get use supplemental Vitamin K2 (MK-7). Remember, vitamin K must be taken with a source of fat in order to be absorbed.

Dose: Adults consume about 150 mcg of vitamin K2 daily

Tips for Avoiding Unwanted Soy Foods


For a simple rule of thumb, just remember that unless soy is fermented (tempeh, miso, natto, or traditionally made soy sauce), you’re better off avoiding it. One Soy Sauce that I recommend and absolutely LOVE is Kikkoman's Lite Soy (less sodium): Unlike other "less sodium' soy sauces, it has a wonderful flavor that doesn't taste heavy/bitter. It is great in ALL sauces, dressings, soups etc.



Soy foods to limit/avoid include:



Tofu (I do use this once in awhile- great for desserts/baking/sauces/smoothies and it's in Meat Substitutes like Yves Veggie crumbles/light life etc but I use it sparingly- I use Mori Nu Silken Lite Tofu)



TVP (texturized vegetable protein) or soy protein isolate, which contains a large amount of msg, which you should definitely not consume



•Soybean oil

•Soymilk

•Soy cheese, soy ice cream, soy yogurt

•Soy “meat” (meatless products made of TVP)

•Soy protein

•Edamame

•Soy infant formula

The best way to eliminate non-fermented soy from your diet is to avoid all processed foods and instead purchase whole foods that you prepare yourself. Note to Vegetarians/Vegans etc: I  know Soy is a great source of protein. Try to minimize use as much as possible (if you eat Eggs/Dairy try to include them- cottage cheese/greek yogurt/Quark etc). Mostly focus on eliminating ADDED unwanted soy found hidden in all sauces, desserts, processed/packaged food.



If you do buy packaged foods, you can check the label to see if it contains soy. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, which took effect in January 2006, requires that food manufacturers list soy on the label, because it’s one of the top eight food allergens.

So, even if soy is hidden in colors, flavors, or spice blends added to foods, it must be clearly stated on the label.


One other common source of soy is lecithin which is used as a emulsifier in many foods and supplements. Most lecithin in the US is derived from soy but there are some newer products that extract it from organic sunflower. Many have switched to the organic sunflower lecithin.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOY? Was there anything that surprised you in this article? Has this article made you reconsider your stance or give you "food for thought"? Do you regularily consume GMO Soy products? If you do use Soy, what reasons do you use it for?

If you wish to know more about soy, I have provided some additional links on this subject.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/07/the-evidence-against-soy.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/18/soy-can-damage-your-health.aspx

Healthy Habits; Taking yourself out of the situation.

Janetha posted an interesting post on Healthy Habits, which really got me thinking. I think a problem with many of us is NOT dealing with emotions. Or rather, dealing with them in unhealthy ways. In keeping with the 'Healthy Habits' theme, I wanted to introduce another 'healthy' habit that many of us could benefit from. Getting out of the negative situation!

Learning how to remove yourself from the situation that is causing you to cope in unhealthy ways is one of the first steps in realizing that you are worth it. Many people struggle with emotional eating, guilt, fear, anxiety, self worth and feel pressured to put on the 'all is well' front. I think it's necessary for us to realize that it is okay-  more than that: HEALTHY, for us to be able to recognize and feel that we are not okay at all times. Whether it is feeling the pressure to look a certain way, suppress emotions, appear put together and perfect, successful, or buy that perfect present; all of us succumb to pressure at times. Being able to put distance between us and the emotion is a great way to gain perspective. I call it 'Getting out of the eye of the storm'. REMOVE yourself physically from the situation.
This is one of the best ways to EMOTIONALLY and psychologically remove yourself from it as well.

I recently was feeling so stressed out, and the entire fridge lay temptation to being consumed within an hour. It is often hard to think 'How will I feel after this' when you are just trying to numb the emotions/fear/feelings down and get through your day. Rather than giving in, I recognized that I needed to get out.It is hard to stop, so rather than mentally exhaust myself trying to rationalize with myself, I grabbed my laptop, note book and headed to my favorite Starbucks. Getting out among people really helps get you out of your head. Listening to the Holiday Music (Josh Groban), listening to the laughter and conversations of people around me, and seeing all the people around me really helped.

Now I realize that it is seldom this easy. But having a 'back-up plan' and listening to your intuition, recognizing that something is off and you are not coping is one of the best habits we can develop. I think that too many of us have developed or started working on this habit too late in life.

Here are some ideas:
1. GET OUT OF YOUR APARTMENT/HOUSE/CONDO/desk etc.
Even if it is for 5-10 minutes, get away. Go for a quick walk, go window shop, or just sit somewhere safe until you can gain perspective and calm down a bit. You need to think straight and when you are riled up, this is no state to be making decisions in.

-When you are feeling a bit better, allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling. Pain and hurt, as unpleasant as they are, are a healthy and integral part of our psyche.
-Take deep breaths!
- Distract yourself. I like walking through Chapter's or book stores, Home & Bath stores, grocery isles... anything with a lot of stuff to distract me with. Ironically, this lets me think clearer!
- Have a back up plan. If you are going through a rough time, brain-storm a few ideas ahead of time that you can do if you ever feel yourself getting overwhelmed. Join  a Yoga class, buy some paints, pick a favorite walking path, or head to your favorite grocery store (there are no right or wrong places-as long as they are safe!).
While this time of year is hard for so many people, the festive spirit and music/lights make it a wonderful place to reminisce, reflect, think and getaway without feeling too isolated and lonely.

I think so many of us put too much emphasis on trying to align ourselves with how we think we SHOULD be, vs how we really feel. This 'dis-alignment' causes so much grief.

Obviously, having someone you can talk to is essential to our well being. It's a hard step to make. We may not always be successful in extracting ourselves from toxic situations; the pain may be too great at times, and we may feel too tired. But those rare occasions that we are able to get out, and forgo the emotional binging, or whatever behaviour it is we end up regretting, it is the most empowering, and joyous feeling.

And for those times that you don't, and you do eat everything in your kitchen, cupboards, pantry, freezer etc, remember: IT'S OKAY!!! We all make mistakes, and we all go through times where our actions leave us feeling depressed, frustrated and regretful.

Just remember, that one day does not define you. Nor does one week, one month, or one year. Each day is a chance to make a fresh start, take a little better care of ourselves, learn to be in-touch with our feelings, and learn better ways to cope. Forgiveness of self and self-love are one of the healthiest habits I know.

The Truth About Soy

As many of you know, I am not a fan of soy (or more accurately UNFERMENTED SOY). I believe it should be avoided by all those with Thyroid issues, history of any cancers, and males in general. After reading this article from The Weston A. Price Foundation, I thought it merited reposting it here.
They  compiled a list of soy dangers and myths to get the truth out once and for all. Again, I just want to stress that they are referring to UNFERMENTED soy. I will post some top reasons why SOY is a 'risky' food to eat on Thursday. What are your thoughts on soy??




Soy Dangers Summarized

•High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking, but only with long fermentation. High-phytate diets have caused growth problems in children.

•Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In test animals, soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.

•Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.

•Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.

•Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B12.

•Soy foods increase the body's requirement for Vitamin D. Toxic synthetic Vitamin D2 is added to soy milk.

•Fragile proteins are over-denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.

•Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.

•Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy foods to mask soy's unpleasant taste.

•Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum, which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.

Myths and Truths About Soy

Here we dispel the myths of the "Diet Dictocrats" and reveal the scientific validity behind our wise ancestors' nutrient-dense diets.



Myth: Use of soy as a food dates back many thousands of years.



Truth: Soy was first used as a food during the late Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC), only after the Chinese learned to ferment soybeans to make foods like tempeh, natto and tamari.



Myth: Asians consume large amounts of soy foods.



Truth: Average consumption of soy foods in Japan and China is 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) per day. Asians consume soy foods in small amounts as a condiment, and not as a replacement for animal foods.



Myth: Modern soy foods confer the same health benefits as traditionally fermented soy foods.



Truth: Most modern soy foods are not fermented to neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way that denatures proteins and increases levels of carcinogens.



Myth: Soy foods provide complete protein.



Truth: Like all legumes, soybeans are deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine. In addition, modern processing denatures fragile lysine.



Myth: Fermented soy foods can provide vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets.



Truth: The compound that resembles vitamin B12 in soy cannot be used by the human body: in fact, soy foods cause the body to require more B12



Myth: Soy formula is safe for infants.



Truth: Soy foods contain trypsin inhibitors that inhibit protein digestion and affect pancreatic function. In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors led to stunted growth and pancreatic disorders. Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D, needed for strong bones and normal growth.



Phytic acid in soy foods results in reduced bioavailabilty of iron and zinc, which are required for the health and development of the brain and nervous system. Soy also lacks cholesterol, likewise essential for the development of the brain and nervous system.



Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicated in the current trend toward increasingly premature sexual development in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development in boys.



Myth: Soy foods can prevent osteoporosis.



Truth: Soy foods can cause deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, both needed for healthy bones. Calcium from bone broths and vitamin D from seafood, lard and organ meats prevent osteoporosis in Asian countries—not soy foods.



Myth: Modern soy foods protect against many types of cancer.



Truth: A British government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased risk of cancer.



Myth: Soy foods protect against heart disease.



Truth: In some people, consumption of soy foods will lower cholesterol, but there is no evidence that lowering cholesterol with soy protein improves one's risk of having heart disease.



Myth: Soy estrogens (isoflavones) are good for you.



Truth: Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters. At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams (about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue.



Myth: Soy foods are safe and beneficial for women to use in their postmenopausal years.



Truth: Soy foods can stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors and cause thyroid problems. Low thyroid function is associated with difficulties in menopause.



Myth: Phytoestrogens in soy foods can enhance mental ability.



Truth: A recent study found that women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels of cognitive function; In Japanese Americans tofu consumption in mid-life is associated with the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in later life.



Myth: Soy isoflavones and soy protein isolate have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status.



Truth: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) recently withdrew its application to the FDA for GRAS status for soy isoflavones following an outpouring of protest from the scientific community. The FDA never approved GRAS status for soy protein isolate because of concern regarding the presence of toxins and carcinogens in processed soy.



Myth: Soy foods are good for your sex life.



Truth: Numerous animal studies show that soy foods cause infertility in animals. Soy consumption enhances hair growth in middle-aged men, indicating lowered testosterone levels.



Myth: Soybeans are good for the environment.



Truth: Most soybeans grown in the US are genetically engineered to allow farmers to use large amounts of herbicides.



Myth: Soybeans are good for developing nations.



Truth: In third-world countries, soybeans replace traditional crops and transfer the value-added of processing from the local population to multinational corporations.



Soy Infant Formula: Birth Control Pills for Babies

Babies fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to 22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula. Infants exclusively fed soy formula receive the estrogenic equivalent of at least four birth control pills per day.



Male infants undergo a testosterone surge during the first few months of life, when testosterone levels may be as high as those of an adult male. During this period, baby boys are programmed to express male characteristics after puberty, not only in the development of their sexual organs and other masculinity traits, but also in setting patterns in the brain characteristic of male behavior.



In animals, studies indicate that phytoestrogens in soy are powerful endocrine disrupters. Soy infant feeding -- which floods the bloodstream with female hormones that inhibit testosterone -- cannot be ignored as a possible cause of disrupted development patterns in boys, including learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder.



Male children exposed to DES, a synthetic estrogen, had testes smaller than normal on maturation and infant marmoset monkeys fed soy isoflavones had a reduction in testosterone levels up to 70 percent compared to milk-fed controls.



Almost 15 percent of white girls and 50 percent of African-Americans girls show signs of puberty, such as breast development and pubic hair, before the age of eight. Some girls are showing sexual development before the age of three. Premature development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula and exposure to environmental estrogen-mimickers such as PCBs and DDE.



Intake of phytoestrogens even at moderate levels during pregnancy can have adverse affects on the developing fetus and the timing of puberty later in life.


Here is just a sampling of the health effects that have been linked to soy consumption:




•Breast cancer

•Brain damage

•Infant abnormalities

•Thyroid disorders

•Kidney stones

•Immune system impairment

•Severe, potentially fatal food allergies

•Impaired fertility

•Danger during pregnancy and nursing

Soy proponents will argue that soy-based foods (they lump the fermented ones with the unfermented) will protect you from everything from colon, prostate and breast cancer to strokes, osteoporosis, and asthma.



But said enthusiasts never mention the studies that illuminate soy’s downside and all of the dangers posed to your health, which are based on sound research.



Another unfortunate fact is that 80 percent of the world’s soy is used in farm animal feed, which is why soy production is contributing to deforestation. Some soy propagandists have suggested that the solution to this is for all of us to become vegetarians—a reckless recommendation rooted in total ignorance about nutrition—whereas a far better solution is a major overhaul in how farm animals are fed and raised.

Supplements worth trying: CoEnzyme Q10, and a SF Pancake Syrup Sale!

Before I get into todays post, just wanted to mention that my favorite Walden Farms Pancake Syrup is on sale for $3.99!!!
Get it while you can HERE!





I will continue with part 2 of "My Favorite Things" Christmas edition later this week. If you missed Part 1 click HERE (some of my favorite kitchen appliances etc- great gift ideas! and GREAT sales).
 
As a Nutrition and Supplement Consultant with extensive experience dealing with both clients, customers, illnesses  A-Z and Supplements, I often get asked "What should I take". There is NO one size fits all! Just as there is not one University Degree, genre or shoe style that will interest EVERYONE.

 However, there are definitely some products that I recommend for the vast majority of my clients, as their benefits are truly amazing. What I'd like to do in the next few weeks before the New Year, is to post  about some Winners (in terms of products to take) that I truly recommend, and think would benefit you in the New Year. Hopefully this will provide you with a little bit of new information, interest you, and perhaps help you to lead a healthier, more vibrant life. I will be listing these in NO particular order. I will try to keep these as brief as possible, as I have a tendency to "over-inform", and go into too much detail. My co-workers, family and friends call it "encyclopedi-izing".

So what is one Supplement/Nurtient I suggest trying for the New Year?
COENZYME Q 10 *CoQ10 or Ubiquinone/Ubiquinol (called as such because it is Ubiquitous is the body).


What Is It?

CoEnzyme is a fat-soluble antioxidant. You'll probably be familiar with the numerous health benefits linked to co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10). There are multiple reports and studies on its ability to help fight a large range of conditions from cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy and cancer, to diabetes, male infertility, AIDS, asthma, thyroid disorders and gum disease. It is primarily used to treat heart disease, or heart associated problems.

Coenzyme Q10 is our "spark plug" or catalyst if you will. Besides being a potent antioxidant, it is an exceptional energy provider! CoEnzyme Q10 helps with ATP production (refuelable quick source energy). This nutrient is found in all cells of the body and plays a vital part in creating energy within the mitochondria, small organs inside the cell. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that has great importance as a free radical scavenger. CoQ10 protects the stability of the cell membrane, protects DNA from free radical induced oxidative damage, and helps recycle Vitamin E. The human body gradually loses its ability to synthesize CoQ10 as we age. Research suggests that supplementation with CoQ10 may support normal heart function, protect DNA from free radical induced oxidative damage, and maintain healthy energy levels.




Because it can reach the mitochondria, it not only reduces free radical production but it can also improve the overall production of energy. It is found primarily in the Heart, Pancreas, liver and kidneys. Energy production creates a large amount of free radicals, luckily CoQ10 helps produce energy WHILE neutralizing the free radicals formed during energy production.


 Co-enzyme Q10, is used by people who want to build up their energy reserves, following an illness or during a stressful period. Many people believe that it helps increase life-span, as it helps protect the DNA from free radical damage.

It can also be used with great effect if you have problems with energy prodcution in your muscles (which can be caused by many illnesses, such as chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia).
Multiple research studies suggest that it also may speed up recovery from heart attack or stroke.


Why Supplement?

After the age of 25, our levels of this miracle nutrient start declining at a rapid rate. CoQ10 levels are reported to decrease with age and to be low in patients with some chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Some prescription drugs may also lower CoQ10 levels. Smoking decreases the supplies our bodies, as does illness and excessive stress (which also causes free radical damage).


Which Form?

 There are many debates as to which form to take (ubiquinone or ubiquinol) and thus far Ubiquinol seems to confer the most benefits. What may also make this newer form of CoQ10 so much more effective than CoQ10 supplements on the market today, is its ability to remain biologically active in the body much longer. Smaller amounts are also needed to maintain blood plasma levels. In other words, this form may absorb better, and stay in the blood longer. Ubiquinone is the oxidized version, whereas Ubiquinol is the reduced version. Ubiquinone is found in most supplements, unless otherwise stated. This does NOT mean that Ubiquinone is a waste of money and not effective; it just isn't AS effective as Ubiquinol! Ubiquinone gets converted into Ubiquinol, so there is an extra step involved and therefore some loss in terms of potency, bioavailability and efficacy (not all of it gets converted). Ubiquinol is newer, and typically more expensive.

The good news is that when you are younger, your body easily converts Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol- which means that the sooner you take it, the more effective it will be and less expensive on your budget! I would not recommend taking this for someone under the age of 30 unless they are extremely active! You can usually find trace amounts of CoQ10 in better pre/post/during workout supplements, and antioxidant/immune formulas.

Can you get it naturally from food?
CoQ10 is found in trace amounts in meat and seafood, and is transported throughout our bodies with our LDL and VLDL cholesterol. LDL is prone toward oxidation by free radicals, which in turn damages the walls of our blood vessels, which leads to the build up of plack on artery walls (arthlerosclorosis). CoQ10 "piggy-backs' LDL, protecting it from being oxidized. Because the amounts we get from food are so small, as an energy source, the resulting benefits are smaller than those associated with taking a supplement (100mg-300mg).


While this supplement isn't necessary, it certainly is one worth trying! You can find it in many anti-aging creams, as well as blemish formulas and healing creams!



Further reading more biology based:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10

Have you tried CoQ10? What were your results? Is this something that you could see yourself trying out and incorporating into your life?

RIDICULOUS CANNED ORGANIC PUMPKIN SALE Click!!

Hi Guys,
I had to tell you about this deal while it lasts:

Farmer's Market Brand Organic Canned Pumpkin PACK OF 12!!!! $18.00!!!

 I normally buy this stuff for close to $4 a can! This is 58% off!!! I am definitely taking advantage of this! If I were to buy this IN STORE and ON SALE, I would normally pay $40 for 12 cans minimum!!!
Sale ends soo, so take advantage of it and get ready to stock up and make healthy pumpkin pie oats, shakes, pumpkin bread, protein cakes, muffins, cakes, brownies, dips, curries...

A few of my Favorite Things: Xmas ideas and 5 of my Favorites

I have had a few very nice emails of readers asking me to tell them more about myself and make my site more personal. As many of you know, I started this off as a personal blog, but due to one rather derogatory comment, I stopped blogging about my life and daily happenings, and instead stuck to reviews, recipes, articles, editorials etc. I realized that one comment should affect me at all. For now, I will start a series of "A Few of My Favorite Things", which will be items (food, household, gadgets etc) that I absolutely love and cannot live with out. I figured that with Black Friday and Christmas around the corner, now would be the perfect time to recommend some items that I use regularly, stand behind and love! I, personally, appreciate when I have 'real people' feed-back, as opposed to advertising. I hope this helps and gives you guys some great ideas!

1. My Salter Mini Electronic Scale!
It is small and fits into my purse/gym bag. It is so convenient for when I am measuring out protein powder, Fibersmart, oatmeal etc. Great to take to restaurants, on vacation, to class etc. It is portable, discreet and weighs in 0.05g increments!! This is my 'baby' and I am attached to this more than I'd like to admit!

2. My Salter Nutritional Scale:

I use this daily in my kitchen, whenever I am baking/cooking. It's fun to see how off certain food counts are (packaged food serving sizes) and it is invaluable for baking, cooking or just weighing food portions. It calculates the calories as well. It weighs up to 3kg, and has tons of pre programmed foods in it. You can also program your own foods.
This is invaluable for people with Diabetes, Hypertension (tracks sodium as well!), pre-contest fitness athletes and athletes in general. This is the old-school model. They have the update which is sleeker and you can get it HERE>. It has about 1450 pre-stored Nutritional Values for foods, and you can enter about 100 of your own foods (protein powder, kabocha etc) 10yr warranty, comes with batteries, and even tracks GI loads!

3.  I ADORE and highly recommend THE NINJA Master Prep Pro. It works just like the infomercial says it does (for once they didn't exaggerate) and really chops ice into snow! High quality, fast, effective- the perfect gift for ANYONE. College student, kid, teen, family, parent's, friends etc. It has 6 blades (3 on the top and 3 on the bottom base) so it doesn't leave anything un-blended, chopped, mixed etc. It doubles as a powerful food processor, chopper and ice crusher (that really delivers results)! This truly has been one of my best purchases and I highly recommend it! It makes everything- from chicken to salad! The Master Prep Pro has 2x the speed of the original, is more powerful, chops evenly and doesn't turn your salsa into mush! The BEST GIFT!

For those of you who want a simpler easy blender only, they also have THE NINJA original (which is FANTASTIC) and blends/mixes/crushes everything!

4. Magic Bullet! or if you really want a more powerful version, try the Magic Bullet Platinum Pro!
The Platinum Pro has 100 extra Watts and they really make a difference! Food doesn't get stuck, and it works way better than the original! I realize this seems along the same vein as #3, but options are good! The cups are blender itself are MUCH sturdier than the original, and crushes ice into snow really well (unlike the old, original Magic Bullet). They also make the Bullet Express Food Processor/juicer, which makes chopping apples, tomatoes, cucumbers etc a breeze! It's a bigger machine, because it is a food processor primarily. Personally, I'd stick to the Platinum Pro.

5. VITAMIX!!! Love this!!!! This my friends, is the Bentley, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ashton Martin and Rolls Royce of Blender/Mixers. It does everything- makes ice cream, heats and makes soup (through friction, not heat which destroys enzymes), grinds flours (oat flour, wheat, coconut, garbanzo etc), makes Soy and Almond Milk, makes Nut Butters (peanut, almond, walnut, pecan, tahini etc- saves you so much money), smoothies, batters etc. It will pulverize anything! This is the ULTIMATE GIFT! They come in different models, and different versions (professional CIA, 4500 , red, black, platinum etc).

I own the Platinum one. It really is one of those things that is 'too good to be true' but actually is even better than advertised. This supersedes all expectations! Perfect for anyone on any diet! Great for Raw Vegans, because it doesn't use heat in the conventional sense. All the enzymes are left intact, along with all the nutrients. You do not core/peel/chop anything. Just dump the fruit (ex apple) into it whole. Saves so much time! Great for baby food etc.
GET THIS! IT IS LIFE CHANGING!

I realize these have all been Kitchen Gadgets and appliances thus far.
Next post I will delve into different categories, price points, and various other items!

What about you guys? What are some gadgets you LOVE and cannot live without, or have come to depend on?