Are you boosting your brain power?

Here are some foods that are known for their brain boosting power:

Salmon & other fatty cold water fish

Organic, free-range chicken & turkey

Organic, free range eggs

Berries, specifically  blueberries

Beets

Dark green, leafy vegetables

Broccoli & other cruciferous veggies

Carrots

Citrus fruits

Legumes

*Try using some greens along with some berries in a Nutri Bullet or a Vita Mixer for a great smoothie!

Heart Article:

Our beating hearts never take a break, a day off or a vacation. So, it’s so important and critically vital that we care for our most important muscle the “Heart”.  Heart disease is the number cause of death in the U.S today, and far too many of us have lost someone we know and love in and around our communities; either from a heart attack or a stroke. In an effort to nourish and strengthen our most important muscle, I wanted to share with you some recommendations on food, herbs, and supplements that can better equip your family with the best nutrients available today.

“Heart disease takes the lives of far too many people in this country, depriving their families and communities
of someone they love and care for—a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse. With more than
2 million heart attacks and strokes a year, and 800,000 deaths, just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke.”
- Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

The protocol below is a culmination of many herbalists, nutritionists and from my own experience.

Top 10 Foods  / Supplements that Strengthen the Heart and Cardiovascular System:

1 – CoQ10 - Help maintain and balance the critical energy level needed in your body’s most vital muscle… your heart. CoQ10 plays a key role in producing energy in the mitochondria the part of a cell responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).Especially important if you are on a statin drug.

2 – Magnesium – Magnesium is the number one mineral for your muscles, while calcium helps your heart muscle constrict, magnesium helps it relax the heart muscle. Magnesium is known to promote normal blood pressure and assists with managing cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Magnesium is an essential mineral for cardiac health. IT regulates the heartbeat and lowers high blood pressure. It prevents strokes by reducing platelet adhesiveness by about 40%. It also helps to absorb plaque. It can be used like beta-blockers to prevent the heart from having spasms.

3 – Omega 3 – Increase omega-3 fatty acids found in flax seed oil, fish oils and fortified eggs. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to assist in the prevention of heart disease; by lowering triglycerides (fat in the blood), increasing HDL cholesterol, minimizing inflammation and blood clotting, and keeping blood vessels healthy. Omega-3 Fatty Acids consist of three separate fatty acids; a-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). They are found in a variety of foods and have beneficial health effects. Omega-3 Fatty Acids help in fighting heart arrhythmia, blood clots, inflammation and improving cholesterol levels.

4 – Antioxidants – Fruits with red, purple and blue pigments help the body against oxidation, free radical damage, cardiovascular inflammation and early aging. You may also hear antioxidants mentioned along with ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity), which is simply a measure of how well an antioxidant can eliminate free radical damage. Foods high in antioxidants include; blueberries, goji berries, acai, and pomegranate.

5 – B-Complex – The B-complex vitamins, which include folic acid, help keep your nerves and red blood cells healthy and strong. They are also involved in the metabolism (and reduction) of homocysteine, an amino acid that, when elevated, is linked to heart disease, blood clots, heart attack and strokes.

4 – Garlic – Garlic is another herb that is beneficial for the heart. It helps to lower blood pressure, reduce arterial plaque, eliminate excess cholesterol and prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries. Combining garlic with hawthorn and capsicum is great formula to help keep the heart in good shape.

5 – Fiber – Fiber is known for its benefits for your digestive system and its role in colon cancer prevention, and fiber is good for the heart as well. Years of research suggest s that soluble fiber in beans, psyllium, oats, flaxseed and oat bran help lower blood cholesterol levels for some people. Additionally, a high-fiber diet might be lower in fat and may also help displace fattier foods you do eat. To reap the heart-health benefits of fiber, your diet must include soluble fiber. Research suggests it takes 3 grams a day for a cholesterol-lowering effect.

6 – Vitamin C – 1000mg a day – Has been shown to reduce Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) which is an inflammatory biomarker that predicts cardiovascular disease. Among participants with CRP indicative of elevated cardiovascular risk (> or =1.0 mg/L), vitamin C reduced the median CRP by 25.3% vs placebo. These effects are similar to those of statins.  Study – 2009 Jan 1;46(1):70-7. Epub 2008 Oct 10

7 – Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne pepper is a natural blood thinner and blood pressure regulator that has been shown to improve overall circulation by acting as a vasodilator. Its action opens up your arteries and assists in the delivery of key nutrients to all of the organs in the body, specifically your heart. Finally, cayenne pepper strengthens the structure of blood vessels, veins and arteries thus greatly improving circulation of blood flow.

8 – Hawthorne Berry - Hawthorn berry has been known to be one of the best cardiovascular tonics; it relaxes your heart while supporting its ability to sustain its energetic output.  Hawthorn berries have been used in the treatment of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and chronic heart failure.

9 – Good Liquid Mineral Formula – choose a brand that is an organic full spectrum plant derived mineral formula.

10 – Juicing Celery, Kale, Carrot and Apple – This is the best juice to balance out your blood pressure and provide the proper potassium and sodium balance essential for an optimal heartbeat.