Crossfit Supplements that Really Work

Guide to Crossfit Supplements

Crossfit is the new craze in athletic training and it can be a little more intense than your typical Pilates or Zumba class. It is a workout that focuses on both building strength and high interval training, so it can cause a lot of wear and tear on your muscles while also burning fat at a rapid rate. If you want to maximize your results, you can try using Crossfit supplements for the workout to improve the rate at which you are building muscle, burning fat and improving your endurance.

the best Crossfit supplements

It’s important to be cautious when looking into purchasing supplements for your workout enhancement. There are a lot of scams out there that want you to buy products that are full of filler chemicals that are designed to falsify the lasting results that you are looking for.

Often times, people will get faster results from these fake products but end up with some very damaging results to their health.

You need to do your research carefully before you even consider purchasing performance-enhancing supplements and you should also consult your doctor if you are on any medications. They may interact with your chosen Crossfit supplements poorly, and you don’t want to do any unnecessary harm to your body.

  1. Creatine Monohydrate:

    This is the most effective and thoroughly researched product in the world of performance enhancement for athletes. It is extremely impactful on the performance of your body during Crossfit training and will surely show you results when you want them.

    Creatine is known to increase your muscle mass and strength which in turn also increases your capacity for high-intensity training. When you work out, your body depends on something called phosphocreatine to produce energy. The more athletic you become, the more your body produces so you are able to continue to increase your strength and stamina.

    Creatine Crossfit supplements simply help add more of the chemical that you need for producing energy, essentially adding a second source for it. This second source of energy allows your body to jump into a high interval training session without feeling the effect of fatigue as much.

    Be cautious in how you use this because if you go too quickly then the body can begin storing the Creatine too much and you will initially gain weight. Start the supplements slowly and try to ease into the routine of using it. As you exert more energy and you see the composition of your body and its capacity change, you can increase the dosage of your daily supplement.

  2. Beta-Alanine:

    This product is designed to improve your recovery time by reducing the negative impact that the wear and tear of exercise can have on your body. When you work out intensely, like you do in Crossfit training, you can get a lot of pain and soreness in your muscles the next day. You can also get a burning sensation in your muscles during the actual exercise, which can cause you to limit how far you will push on your workout.

    Although a lot of people assume that the lactic acid buildup in your muscles is what causes all of that pain, it is not the only reason why our bodies feel that way. We also get a buildup of hydrogen ions in our muscles, and these are far more likely to create that contraction which is causing the pain in your muscles. These ions can also be responsible for your fatigue after a workout, so reducing those ions makes a huge difference.

    Beta-Alanine helps your body increase its storage of carnosine. This is the chemical that is responsible for removing the additional hydrogen ions that buildup in your muscles when you exercise. By adding more of this chemical through a supplement, you will improve your body’s capacity in each workout and improve your recovery time as well.

    Be careful with the dosage because it can cause a tingling sensation and that may make you uncomfortable. If you feel that sensation, you can cut your dosage in half to reduce or eliminate it.

  3. BCAAs:

    If you want to improve your recovery time more rapidly, look to this product to help you out! It is a really easy one to incorporate into your routine because you can simply add it to your water. It comes in flavors that taste great, so it will not disrupt your water intake at all.

    These Crossfit supplements are designed to improve the repair in your body so that you can get right back to the gym. Regardless of the type of exercise you are doing, this one is great but since Crossfit is so hard on the muscles it is particularly great for that.

    The BCAA that is having the most impact on your muscles is leucine. It improves protein synthesis and reduces the breakdown of proteins, meaning that it preserves the muscles that you have and allows them to rebuild at a rapid rate. If you utilize it prior to your workout, it will likely prevent soreness and muscle fatigue afterwards and if you use it after your workout then it will likely help you get back to the gym faster.

    The three BCAA’s are leucine, isoleucine and valine so it’s important to make sure that all three are in the supplement that you are buying. Try to make sure that it is a 2:1:1 ration respectively with leucine:isoleucine:valine to get you the best results for muscle building and recovery.

  4. Fish Oil:

    Something else that your body relies on for muscle recovery and building are omega-3 fatty acids. Of course, you get this from a healthy diet by eating things like salmon and other healthy proteins but if you are doing Crossfit then your body is using up a lot of what you need.

    Fish oil can help add the omega-3 fatty acids that you need to avoid depletion and improve your recovery process. The two fatty acids that are particularly helpful in fish oil are EPA and DHA and these two also help with muscle recovery. They also have the added bonus of improving heart health and cognitive performance, so it’s a great supplement with or without the excessive exercise.

    Since it is designed to help your body balance fat and muscle, it can also help you in shaping and toning if taken with proper exercise. Take anywhere from 1.5-3 grams of fish oil per day depending on your size and exercise performance needs.

    Try to take it in conjunction with a meal that contains some amount of healthy fat so that the fish oil can be absorbed into the body better.

  5. Protein Powder:

    This is by far the most popular everyday workout / Crossfit supplement on the market and many people use it as a meal replacement. However, if you are in a Crossfit workout plan then you are going to need protein powder to kick-start your muscle building and the repair process for post-workout.

    Since you can sufficiently gain the proteins that you need through food intake each day, you may not need this powder to be added. However, if you are going to several workouts per day or your sessions are particularly long then you may benefit from some added support.

    There are a lot of different options with protein powder, and whey protein is the easiest for your body to digest. That means it’s better for post-workout because it will allow your body to rebuild and repair faster.

    You can also use egg or beef protein powders which will have similar effects to whey’s digestive process. If you use soy or casein protein powder then you should try to avoid using it right after a workout. They don’t break down in the same way and can leave you feeling overly full.

    Try to stick with 20-30 grams of protein powder right after your workout to help you rebuild and repair your muscles. In between meals you can also benefit from protein powder, but be careful not to go overboard. You still get a lot of protein from your meals so too much protein powder being added to that can present some challenges in achieving the results that you want.

Choose the Best Protein for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Having a baby is indeed a wonderful experience for a woman. But during this time period, a female becomes weak due to certain complications associated with pregnancy. These include stress, lack of energy, digestion problems, unnecessary weight gain and an aversion to meat. So, during these times, rich protein diet is direly necessary. This article explains the characteristics of the best protein powder for pregnancy.

Similarly, the infant is completely dependent upon the mother’s milk after delivery. Mother’s milk is a major source of minerals and proteins for the infant. Great care and guidelines should be followed in this latter case too. So, I will also discuss the best protein diet for breastfeeding.

the best protein for pregnancy and during breastfeeding

Why is protein powder important for women during pregnancy?

This is a very common question in our community. There are many reasons:

  1. Meat is the best protein source, especially chicken and fish. However, during pregnancy period a female is faced with a certain number of digestion problems. Some women also do not like the smell of food, especially meat. They satisfy hunger cravings with vegetables. But loading up solely on vegetables is not suitable for satisfying the nutritional needs of infants. In order to fulfill the baby’s requirements of necessary nutritional factors, protein powder and supplements are the best alternatives to meat.
  2. During pregnancy, the woman is confronted with various factors of weakness due to issues with blood pressure, calcium deficiency and anxiety. In this case, the best protein powder can help to control these problems. Protein supplements are the main source of energy for a woman so she can energetically enjoy this wonderful and exciting life experience.
  3. Proteins don’t get converted into fat. In addition to this, proteins suppress the production of a hormone called Ghrelin (Ghrelin stimulates the appetite). So the woman has no problems with excessive accumulation of fat and unnecessary weight gain.

Characteristics of best protein powder for pregnancy and breastfeeding

There should be no compromise in the selection of protein powder in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Because it is about yours and your baby’s health, you need to be alert and well aware of the characteristics of the best protein powder for pregnancy and lactation.

Organic and natural protein elements

If you are looking for the best protein powder for pregnancy and breastfeeding, you must be critical about the protein elements in the protein powder. In a higher proportion, the composition should be natural and organic, since the use of such protein powder is safer and the results are better.

Protein nutrients

The best protein powder for pregnancy always contains high nutrient protein elements including antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. These constituents along with other high nutrients are a big plus for you and your baby.

Antioxidants protect your body from harmful radicals and provide protection against cancer. Certain types of infections caused by air pollution, harmful radiations, and smoke can be avoided.

Vitamins like Vitamin-D and Folic Acid help to make your immune system, bones and nerves strong. Scientific studies show that during pregnancy a female requires 600 IU (International Units) each day. Folic Acid has positive effects on the development of the child.

Minerals are really very important during pregnancy, especially Iron and Calcium. Iron enhances blood hemoglobin level and by doing so chances of problems associated with low hemoglobin like deficiency of blood etc are suppressed. Calcium deficiency is often a big problem associated with pregnancy. Calcium helps to strengthen bones and is equally good for both, mother and child.

PRO TIP:

Iodine, another mineral, stimulates the production of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones help to strengthen the digestive system for the use of energy. Otherwise, a large quantity of food energy will result in fats.

Moreover, iodine helps in the proper development of the nervous system of your child before birth. So, when it comes to the selection of best protein powder for pregnancy, you should be looking for powder with iodine contents besides other minerals like calcium and iron.

Plant protein or vegan protein

Women with gastrointestinal disorders face problems with digestion of various types of protein powders, such as Xanthan Gum. It often causes gas problems because it is made of soy or corn. In such cases, you need to look for plant-rich proteins. Plant proteins are mostly vegan proteins.

Some of the best vegetable proteins containing rich protein contents that are very important for you are:

  • Seitan
  • Tofu, Tempeh and Edamame
  • Lentils
Plant ProteinDescription SourceContents Precautions
SeitanBest vegan protein contains rich contents (25-gram protein per 100 gram).Gluten is the major source of this vegan protein that is found in wheat.

Selenium

Calcium

Iron

People who should avoid using Seitan:

 

Cardiac problems

Allergies due to Gluten

Tofu,
Tempeh
and
Edamame
These vegan proteins contain 10 to 19 grams protein per 100 grams. These proteins provide many useful minerals and vitamins that are really good for pregnant women and can be used in a variety of recipes.These proteins are extracted from Soybeans.

Amino Acids

Calcium

You should avoid these proteins if you have allergies associated with the use of Soy.
LentilsThe lentils consists of 18 grams of protein to 240 milliliters of cooked food and helps with weight loss and improves digestion during pregnancy.These can be obtained from Fabaceae plants 

 

Fibers

Antioxidants

Manganese

Iron

You should avoid lentils if you are allergic to manganese.

Protein content

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pregnant women should use a protein-rich diet containing balanced protein content. WHO has suggested that the diet with up to 25% protein content of the total energy content is best for protein deficient pregnant woman. As per WHO recommendations, your best protein powder for pregnancy and breastfeeding should not contain more than 25% protein.

Moreover, there are no benefits from high protein intake except weight gain. According to some scientific calculations, the ideal amount of protein intake during pregnancy and childbirth should be between 110 and 137 grams per day.

Protein powder ingredients that should be avoided during pregnancy

When choosing your best protein powder for pregnancy, you should also be aware of the fact that certain ingredients are not good for the pregnant woman. So avoid them and try to find a protein powder that does not contain harmful ingredients. Usually, such ingredients are not as harmful, but during pregnancy, due to certain complications, they become harmful.

IngredientNegative side effects
GlutenPeople with Celiac Disease are severely affected by the small amount of this ingredient. Gluten can cause problems with small intestine lining, abnormal hormone levels and even mood swings.
Artificial Sweetening AgentsCertain protein powder products contain Artificial Sweetening Agents for taste improvement. Such agents can cause various health problems including weight gain, increased blood pressure, cholesterol level, and even diabetes. Trust me, these are really bad during pregnancy.
Food AdditivesVarious companies add Food Additives in the supplements for enhancing the freshness, smell, color and many other parameters like that. These food additives may cause diarrhea, asthma, itching and insomnia.
Soy ProteinSoy Proteins can cause many health disorders including reduction of other useful nutrients like iron, thyroid hormone production and other hormonal problems.
Milk TracesTraces of milk in protein powder are another source of protein. But the dangerous fact is that milk traces can contain a lot of milk fat. It is also possible that food additives and artificial sweeteners are added during milk processing.
GlucoseGlucose intake results in enhanced Blood Sugar Levels. The high blood sugar level is extremely dangerous during the early stages of pregnancy, as it causes birth defects. Risk of miscarriage is also tightly associated with glucose.
Meat ProteinMeat, especially chicken and fish, is very rich in protein. Unfortunately, it also contains a certain amount of food additives, soy protein and vegetable oil. As mentioned above, these things are not good for health, as they can cause some serious complications during pregnancy.

I have clearly mentioned the ingredients that sometimes come as supplements in various protein powders for pregnancy. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you must be extremely careful when searching for the best protein powder. So, try to find the protein powder that doesn’t contain ingredients listed in the above table.

Top 5 best protein powders for pregnancy and breastfeeding

In this section, I will present you with a list of 5 best protein powders, which can be very effective. In addition to having a good effect on the health of the mother, intake of certain protein powders can also have a positive effect on your child’s health.

  1. COLLAGEN PROTEIN POWDER

Protein collagen powders are easily digestible. Therefore, they do not cause constipation during pregnancy. Collagen is a source of protein-rich in protein ingredients, e.g. 20 grams of protein per meal. A pregnant woman can benefit greatly from its use:

  • Reduction in weight
  • Decrease cravings
  • Reduce muscle and joint pain
  • Improved skin texture by reducing aging signs. It can also lower the number of face lines.
  • Increase bones and muscle strength
  1. PEA PROTEIN POWDER

Pea Protein Powder is a type of Vegan Protein. Yellow peas are a source for such protein. It is the best protein powder for pregnant woman due to following reasons:

  • These proteins are free from any allergens. So these are extremely safe to use.
  • Pea Protein is a powerful source of essential amino acids.
  • Extremely helpful in weight control.
  1. EGG WHITE PROTEIN POWDER

Egg White Protein is a source of rich and healthy proteins. It enhances the intake of pure protein in the human body and increases energy in the body. Apart from protein nutrients, there are certainly other benefits:

  • Egg White Protein Powder does not have a strong taste, so it can be mixed in various dishes.
  • It has a powerful effect on muscle strength and growth due to the presence of essential amino acids.
  • There are no milk traces, food additives, glucose, oil and other harmful ingredients mixed in Egg White Protein Powder. It is available in the purest form e.g. Egg. This makes it the best protein powder during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
  • The amount of carbohydrates, fat and glucose in egg white protein are considerably lower as compared to other protein types e.g. Whey Protein Powder. One scoop of whey protein can contain up to 23 grams carbohydrates while the same quantity of egg white protein merely contains more than 1.5 grams of carbs.
  • This type of protein powder is easily digestible.
  1. WHEY PROTEIN POWDER

Whey Protein Powder is derived from milk and is one of the best protein powders for pregnancy, but it is ranked fourth on this list due to the presence of traces of milk and a large amount of carbohydrates. This protein powder has many benefits including:

  • Whey Protein Powder doesn’t cause any digestive issues.
  • It contains all the essential amino acid components. These amino acids are not produced naturally, so the food is the best source to deliver them to the human body. Each of these amino acids has a special effect on the parameters of human health, including muscle mass, tissue strength, energy and immune system.
  • Whey Protein Powder reduces hunger and appetite and can result in weight loss.
  • Muscle mass and muscle strength are increased by the use of whey protein powder. Therefore, it is really beneficial for those pregnant women who are skinny and weaker.
  1. HEMP PROTEIN POWDER

Hemp Protein Powder is extracted from the seeds of Hemp Plant and it is another excellent vegan protein. This protein comes with other valuable nutrients. If you have selected Hemp plant seeds as your best protein powder for breastfeeding and pregnancy than you can get benefited from it in the following ways:

  • This type of protein powder also contains other nutrients like fiber, iron, magnesium and potassium. Each of these can affect your body in a positive manner.
  • Hemp Protein Powder also contains balanced amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 rich diet for a pregnant woman helps in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, hypertension and cardiac disease.

Tips for choosing the best protein powder for breastfeeding and pregnancy

pregnant woman

Well, I have tried my best to write this informative article in such a way that anyone reading it can understand the do’s and the don’ts in choosing the best protein powder for pregnancy and breastfeeding. In case of any confusion, I am providing a quick summary here that may help you in understanding the theory behind the selection.

  1. Select those protein powders that contain extracts from natural sources and have nutritional value due to the inclusion of various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
  2. Try to find protein powders having vegan protein as an ingredient because of its digestive, absorptive and low-fat features.
  3. The important thing to consider is that the best protein powder should not contain very high protein content. Because the excess of everything is really bad. So, buy only those protein powders in which protein content is 25% at max.
  4. Never buy protein products containing glucose, artificial sweeteners and food additives. These are bad for mother/child health and growth.
  5. Select protein powders containing essential amino acids, folic acid, iron, omega-3, manganese and potassium as ingredients.

Related: Rooibos during pregnancy

Using your selected protein powder

Once you’ve got protein powder, all you need to do is to use it. Due to the powder form, it is easy to mix, so you can use it in various ways. As a pregnant woman, you can make a healthy meal quickly and effortlessly.

Mixing the powder with water or milk is a great option. An excellent and delicious choice for breakfast is also yogurt with protein powder. If you love to bake, you can use it in baking. Coffee or tea (without caffeine) is another good option for taking these powerful nutrients. You can sprinkle it on top of your salad. After your morning or evening exercise, you can make a delicious protein shake.

Bottom line

Protein is not only useful for women, but men can also benefit from it. For a pregnant woman who faces a complication, proteins can really help. Although meat is the best source of protein, for some obvious reasons, women do not like it during pregnancy.

There are various options in this regard, including whey, peas, collagen, cannabis and white eggs. These are the healthiest proteins.

Another important point in choosing the best protein powder for pregnancy is what should be avoided. These include glucose, food additives, artificial sweeteners, traces of milk and much more. Avoid the purchase of protein powders containing these products.

Lastly, you can use the powder-form of protein in a variety of drinks, salads, and recipes for getting a quick and healthy meal.

I hope you like the article and that you have found a lot of useful information. Please give your valuable feedback.

How Long does it Take for Probiotics to Work?

Find out how long does it take for probiotics to work

The amount of bacteria in your body is way higher when compared to the number of cells. A considerable percentage of these bacteria reside in the guts. However, you don’t need to worry about anything because most of them are quite harmless. In fact, they can lead you towards many health benefits. For example, you will be able to experience enhanced immune function, improved digestion and rapid weight loss due to the presence of these bacteria. In addition, you can also stay away from a variety of illnesses, while promoting healthier skin. Among the friendly bacteria that you have in the body, probiotics play a major role. This type of bacteria can deliver positive results to you when consumed. Most of the people tend to consume probiotics with the objective of experiencing the above-mentioned health benefits. However, many wonder how long it takes for the probiotics to work and provide you with the results that you expect after consumption.

how long does it take for probiotics to work

Well, there is no exact answer to this question. That’s because the time taken for probiotics to work vary depending on various factors. For example, the type of probiotic you consume would create a heavy impact on the time taken to deliver positive results.

What exactly are probiotics?

Probiotics are the live microbes, which are in a position to provide a range of health benefits to your body. However, you need to make sure that you are consuming probiotics in the right amounts to receive positive results. It is possible for you to purchase probiotics easily from the market. In fact, they are available as dietary supplements, food additives and fermented food.

Can probiotics deliver positive results for everyone?

No, the probiotics are not in a position to deliver positive results to everyone. Human beings differ from one another. That’s the main reason why probiotics are not in a position to provide positive results to everyone. The factors, which are unique for you, including your age, gene makeup, amount of bacteria that you have in the body, health and the diet are in a position to create an impact on the functionality of probiotics.

When you are consuming probiotics, you need to make sure that you consume them in the right amounts. Otherwise, you cannot expect them to work. On the other hand, you must also verify that you are consuming probiotics in the right way. For example, if you are taking supplements with probiotics, you need to go through the label carefully and follow the directions.

There are a few different strains in probiotics. You should also select the right strain out of them. That’s because all the strains cannot deliver positive results for every symptom. Therefore, you need to locate the right match based on the studies. If the quality of the product that you buy to source probiotics intake is poor, you cannot expect them to work as well. In most instances, improper storing practices can lead probiotics to get damaged. If you consume such foods, you cannot receive the benefits delivered by probiotics.

Related: Leaky gut supplements

How to get your probiotics to work?

Now you must be wondering how to get your probiotics to work. That’s not something difficult as you may think. Here are some useful tips that you can follow to ensure that.

To begin with, you have to make sure that you are settling down with a reputed brand that offers the probiotics supplement or probiotics containing food. You can do your own background research on the brand and go through customer reviews. Then you can figure out whether it is a reputed brand or not. You must always stick to a product, which provides evidence to highlight effectiveness.

As mentioned earlier, improper storage practices are in a position to create a negative impact on the probiotics. Therefore, you need to make sure that you purchase probiotics, which are stored properly by reading the supplement label and focusing on the storage specifications recommended by the manufacturer.

After you purchase probiotics, make sure that you are consuming it as directed. You must carefully follow the directions and familiarize yourself with the steps that need to be followed when consuming probiotics. Only in this way they can deliver much-needed results you expect.

The probiotics that you consume should also be in a position to survive within the body. By going through the product description, you can verify a supplement or a product, which will work. In addition, you should also keep an eye on the list of ingredients. It is better if you can stay away from products that have added binders or fillers, as they can cause allergic reactions.

probiotics aka leaky gut treatment supplements

How to choose the perfect probiotics for you?

Last but not least, let’s take a look at how to find the best probiotics available on the market for you.

  • You should begin your research by taking a look at the condition. You need to understand that probiotics cannot deliver positive results for all illnesses that you come across. Therefore, you need to match the symptom with the probiotics strain. Then you need to get your hands on the right microbe. It is better if you can go through the evidence, which support that the specific probiotic you are looking at can help you overcome symptoms.
  • The best choice of probiotics are those that have all the strains clinically tested and at the same time do not contain any stabilizers, emulsifiers, and fillers such as magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, maltodextrin and such. The product should only contain good bacteria – probiotics and food for good bacteria – prebiotics.
  • An important piece of information about probiotic potency that manufacturers also disclose is whether the prescribed CFU (colony-forming unit) content is contained in the product at the time of production or at the end of the expiration date. There is a possibility that the number of colony units will partly decline after production. It is usually very good to know that one or the other probiotics contain e.g. 5 milliards CFU at the end of the use-by date. However, if the probiotic contains 5 milliards CFUs at production, this number may also be decreasing during the product life cycle.
  • At the time of using probiotics, you should also stick to the recommended dosage. Then you will be able to receive the most effective results offered by them.

Final Words: How long does it take for probiotics to work?

Now you have a clear understanding of what probiotics are, how they can work and we have also learned that there are several different types of probiotics. In addition, you also know how much time it takes for the probiotics to work and how you can get them to work.

The best criterion for selecting probiotics is to check the type of bacteria it contains, how many of it, how many different strains it contains and whether a prebiotic is added.

Keep these facts in your mind when you are shopping for probiotics or consuming probiotics. Based on all this information and your own experience, it will be easier for you to decide on how to solve your digestive problems.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Coconut Oil Simple Diet

How to lose weight with apple cider vinegar and coconut oil

Apple cider vinegar and coconut oil are foods that can help you lose weight. To combine apple cider vinegar and coconut oil? Why not! Even our ancestors knew about the slimming effects of apple cider vinegar. And we all know that coconut oil is healthy. It can also help to lose weight if consumed in moderation only.

apple cider vinegar and coconut oil drink for weight loss

There is a lot of information about apple cider vinegar for weight loss, we all know its medicinal properties and beneficial effects on the body, but there’s not enough clarity to define whether coconut oil is useful for weight loss or not.

You’re all probably familiar with the use of apple vinegar and coconut oil in cooking, but the use of apple vinegar with coconut oil is a less known weight loss method. Before you jumpstart a diet, learn what kind of healing properties apple cider vinegar and coconut oil have. Let’s take another look at both foods and find out how they can be used for weight loss.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is mainly used for salad dressings but it is also very effective in various weight loss diets. Weight loss with apple vinegar and coconut oil is simple and above all natural and safe method for your body.

Before you start with these old, proven methods of weight loss, search for recipes and prepare apple vinegar yourself. In a race against time, you may not be able to make your homemade vinegar and you’ll have to buy it in the store. Be extremely careful to buy natural vinegar without any chemical additives.

bottles of homemade apple cider vinegar

Healing effects of apple cider vinegar

  • Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol
  • Helps to reduce health issues associated with arthritis and osteoporosis
  • Accelerates metabolism, cleanse the body and improves digestion
  • Prevents the loading of toxins and fats in our body and helps to convert nutrients into energy
  • Helps in the fight against cellulite
  • Prevents the development of bad bacteria in the body
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Helps to eliminate acne
  • It breaks down minerals, proteins, and fats in the blood and digestive tract
  • Protects the heart and blood vessels
  • Stimulates the secretion of gastric acid and calms the stomach
  • It has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver, spleen, bile and the kidneys
  • Due to disinfecting and antibacterial action, it protects intestinal flora against toxic bacteria
  • It contains potassium which is important for the growth and division of cells and for muscle and nerve activity
  • It helps in the respiratory tract infections, inflammation of the throat, cough, and hoarseness
  • In ancient times they treated wounds, burns, and bruises with apple vinegar as it promotes skin and connective tissue cell renewal

Healing properties of apple cider vinegar

Even in the period before antiquity, people were making a drink from old varieties of apples. In the middle ages they probably already knew that apple cider had a medicinal effect on the body, even though they did not know exactly which ingredients in it are healing.

Today, we are quite well aware that apple cider has a healing effect, and thanks to the scientists who have discovered this, you can enjoy the health benefits of adding it to your diet.

  • It contains vitamins C, E, A, B1, B2, B6, beta-carotene, acetic acid, propionic and lactic acid, as many as 13 essential amino acids, and apple pectin.
  • Contains minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, copper, and iron.
  • Contains bioflavonoids and enzymes.

Related: Apple diet

Coconut oil

Coconut oil promotes metabolism and helps to burn body fat. Some are also convinced that it is good for the heart, cures candidiasis and various types of cancer.

For a long time, coconut oil was labeled as “bad fat” because it contains mainly saturated fats. People were avoiding it but in reality, coconut oil is much healthier than you might think. Saturated fat in coconut oil consists of medium chain triglycerides. These relatively short chain fats can be easily used by our body and are not stored as fat.

According to recent research, coconut oil has an excellent effect on heart health, helps with weight loss and accelerates metabolism. The oil does not contain cholesterol.

coconut oil

Coconut oil as a functional food

Coconut oil is obtained from coconut meat and cannot be identified with coconut milk. According to research, coconut oil belongs to so-called functional foods.

Functional food is any fresh or processed food which, in addition to its usual nutritional characteristics, also has properties that have a beneficial effect on health: either it improves it or prevents the development of certain diseases.

The function of food is to provide energy and other substances that ensure the normal functioning of the body.

The medium chain fatty acids do not circulate through the bloodstream but are metabolized directly into the liver, where they are immediately converted into energy. They do not accumulate in cells as fat, thus helping to lower body weight as they accelerate metabolism. Therefore, extra virgin coconut oil can also be used as a functional food for athletes.

Coconut oil is ideal for cooking because the food prepared with this oil is healthier. It is suitable for frying at high temperatures and we can use it to prepare all kinds of food. It is recommended to use cold-pressed coconut oil, which preserves its smell and its full nutritional value.

Why is coconut oil healthy?

  • Coconut oil improves digestion and absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, especially magnesium, calcium and vitamin D.
  • It accelerates metabolism and generates the energy needed for everyday activities.
  • Coconut oil increases the level of “good” and reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol. This also reduces body weight and is therefore highly recommended for weight loss.
  • Coconut oil is very effective against all types of fungi that attack the digestive system, and further, stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria that form our intestinal flora.
  • With its antiviral activity, it strengthens the immune system.
  • In addition to all this, coconut oil is also suitable for skin and hair care.

Coconut fat is a valuable aid for weight loss – it promotes metabolism and is a good source of energy

  • Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) from coconut oil break into fatty acids before leaving the stomach. Because they do not need further processing, they go straight into the liver that they use to produce energy. They do not accumulate in body fat, and they also accelerate metabolism.
  • Faster digestion indirectly affects the entire body, improves blood circulation, accelerates recovery and treatment, improves the functioning of the immune system and therefore increases the level of energy. Coconut fat is known to improve various health conditions, in addition to obesity, and its effect lasts for at least 24 hours after ingestion.
  • In a study comparing human metabolism before consuming a meal rich in medium-chain fatty acids, scientists found that metabolism accelerates on average 48 percent, and in obese people up to 65 percent.
  • It supports the digestion of food, which makes you feel fuller after a meal and you are less likely to eat snacks throughout the day.
  • Coconut oil reduces appetite. According to experts, this is related to the metabolism of the fatty acids that coconut oil contains. Ketones reduce appetite. Men who used coconut oil in the study consumed an average of 250 calories less per day. Another study in 14 healthy men found that those who consumed a lot of fatty acids for breakfast consumed fewer calories at lunch. These studies were carried out in a short period of time. Researchers are convinced that while persisting in the long run, coconut oil could have a dramatic impact on body weight over several years.
  • Coconut oil prevents fluctuations in blood sugar that trigger the storage of energy from carbohydrates in the form of body fat.
  • Fatty acids in coconut oil destroy the candida, a fungus that can cause overweight and curb cravings for carbohydrates.

How to use apple vinegar with coconut oil for weight loss?

A proven and healthy way is primarily the moderate consumption of apple vinegar. Weight loss with apple vinegar and coconut oil is simple and healthy. Natural acids present in apple vinegar, help to dissolve fat in your body and flush all the poisons and undigested foods from your bowel. Weight loss with apple vinegar and coconut oil diet is simple and safe;

Before breakfast, mix two teaspoons of apple vinegar with a teaspoon of coconut oil in a glass of water and drink. In the afternoon, half an hour before a meal, take another mixture of apple cider vinegar and coconut oil. Coconut oil lowers your appetite and you will eat less. If you are hungry in the evening, replace a meal with a teaspoon of coconut oil.

To get effective results of this diet, you need to reduce food intake, due to high levels of fat value.

Does Magnesium Alkalize your Body?

PH level and magnesium: how magnesium affects the pH levels of our body and its other contributions to overall health

Does magnesium alkalize your body? Let’s answer your question right away: yes, it does. In one way or another, magnesium helps to maintain the PH level of our body. Magnesium’s chemical reaction is acid-binding; hence it directly aids in alkalizing your body. However, this is just one of the many functionalities of magnesium. It is a wonder mineral for our overall health, probably the most important considering how it affects the functionalities of a few other essential minerals. And there is one common function among those minerals – they all alkalize our body and help to maintain optimum pH balance.

In short, not only magnesium itself is an effective alkalizing agent, it promotes several other alkalizing minerals in our body too.  Let’s take a closer look at how the pH balance being maintained in our body, with a little bit verified “science”, shall we?

The question "does magnesium alkalize your body" explained

Acidity and alkalinity: the “science” behind the pH of our body

PH level is what determines if something is acidic or alkaline. PH level starts from 0 and ends at 14. When 0 means something is completely acidic, on the other hand, pH 14 means totally alkaline. 7 is the middle number of pH level which is neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline. Now, the pH of your body cannot be the same throughout every organ or body parts, and it’s completely natural – it’s how our body works.

For example, the pH of our blood is a little bit alkaline with a level varies between 7.35 and 7.45, in an otherwise healthy human body. However, if you consider the stomach – it’s highly acidic with a pH level of maximum 3.5, or below. It has to be very acidic, cause the job of your stomach is to breakdown food so that the nutrients of food can be absorbed by the body.

Lastly, the pH of our urine is never fixed, it’s always changing based on what we are eating or drinking. This is exactly how pH works in our body, in a normal healthy human body.

Do not try to balance your body pH with synthetic supplements or medications

Contrary to popular belief, or what those so-called white-gowned quacks say on TV shows or on the internet – you should not try to “control” your body’s pH level by taking any kind of synthetic medicines by any means unless of course, you’re sick due to pH imbalance.

However, in case you think that you have a pH imbalance in your body, you should be tested and treated according to your doctor’s advice. You must never ever self-treat with over-the-counter drugs or untested dietary supplements according to any website, cause no website is a holy bible – it’s the doctor to whom you must put your trust.

So, what if you don’t think a doctor is giving you the best advice or his/her diagnosis is wrong? Things like that happen always, right? The solution is simple, just go to another doctor, preferably the one who has specialization and more experience to treat your specific condition. Only another doctor can be an ideal substitute for a doctor.

Now, getting back to where we started – “we should never try to control or interfere with our body’s pH balance”. But you heard things different, right? Every now and then some white-gowned so-called experts appear and tell us to eat something which is “alkaline” in nature to maintain our body’s pH, and they insist that neutral pH is not enough, our body should be in an alkaline state.

Nothing could be further from the truth; you must ignore what those quacks are saying. Almost always the reason behind it is the promotion of some special supplements.

So, what’s the truth then?

Related: Is your body overloaded with toxins?

Our body maintains its own pH level according to its need

Our body is a very complex organic machinery which is well-capable of maintaining its state without any interference from outside, provided it’s in its healthy state already. Just like I said above, our stomach is very acidic, why? Because it needs to break down the food we eat, hence the acidic environment in the stomach is necessary – and our body makes sure to keep it that way always. Our blood needs to be alkaline in nature, so the body takes care of that.

However, here’s a little bit of trick those quacks use to fool people. They sell diet plans, special supplements, etc. which consist of “alkaline” ingredients. And most alkaline ingredients are usually vegetables, fruits, etc. which are naturally good for our body’s overall health.

Like if I say I have a magic diet plan which will make you healthy, and sell you a diet which is a balanced mix of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, etc. – did I tell you a lie? Yes and No. No, because a diet plan with the proper amount of fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean meats will actually keep you in your optimum healthy state (please note, there are various factors that are responsible to keep one healthy other than diet only, such as regular exercise).

However, I told you a lie too, because it’s no magic diet – any doctor and nutrition specialist would recommend this diet to anybody with closed eyes and it’s just common sense. So, it’s unethical (if not illegal) to sell such “common sense” in a wrapped box with a “secret” label.

Does magnesium alkalize your body?

Now, as we know the “science” behind the pH label, let’s discuss how magnesium helps to alkalize our body. Again, please note – while I am saying “alkalize” our body, I do not mean alkalizing the ideal pH level of a body in its optimum healthy state. Let me explain what I actually mean to avoid any confusion.

When some of the parts of our body, such as blood, which needs to be in a slightly alkaline state, gets acidic and our body cannot reverse the situation or better say like this, unable to “maintain” the pH balance automatically which is its job, due to any reason – then we need to interfere (here we mean the doctors, not ourselves) and alkalize the blood to bring it in its previous normal state.

Contribution of magnesium in the ideal pH level of our body:

Our body needs several minerals to function properly. This is a very important thing. Because, usually when we talk about food, diet, supplement, etc. – we mainly, and probably only talk about carbohydrate, protein, fat, and vitamins. We never talk about the essential minerals which our body needs as badly as the other nutrients. This general unawareness of minerals can lead to some serious diseases in people over time.

Out of several essential minerals, there are 4 minerals that are responsible to maintain the body’s pH level, along with other necessary functions they are entitled to do: magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium. All these minerals play very crucial roles in our body, deficiency or surplus of any of them can gradually lead to some serious health hazards.

And out of these 4, magnesium is probably the most essential one due to the fact that along with playing its own role, it complements or affects the other minerals and nutrients too, such as calcium, potassium and vitamin D. So, not only magnesium does help in proper maintenance of pH balance by itself, but also it plays important roles in the assimilation of other minerals who contribute to maintaining pH balance by themselves.

4 essential minerals that are needed to alkalize the body

Let’s find out how magnesium contributes to our overall health

  • Magnesium is responsible for the proper functioning of 76 percent of the total enzymes in our body. Even doctors who are usually aware of potassium deficiency and can detect the same in a patient easily, rarely they check for the magnesium deficiency in the same patients. But oftentimes when a person suffering from potassium deficiency, he/she is also suffering from magnesium deficiency (because as we mentioned earlier, magnesium affects and complements potassium in our body) and only treating for potassium deficiency wouldn’t help much, unless he/she is treated for magnesium deficiency at the same time.

  • Magnesium complements calcium in the body. Without adequate magnesium, calcium cannot get assimilated into the bone properly, which can lead to weaker bones and joints, calcification in arteries and calcification in kidneys. Calcification in arteries can lead to narrowing and ultimately blocking the arteries – causing heart attack and subsequently resulting in death. Calcification in kidneys can cause kidney stones.

  • Magnesium has a crucial contribution to the metabolism of carbohydrate and glucose. Therefore, magnesium deficiency is one of the main reasons for type 2 diabetes. We already discussed how magnesium plays a very crucial role in calcium assimilation, and without proper calcium assimilation, how it can lead to heart disease. Apart from indirectly reducing the chance of heart disease by helping in calcium assimilation, magnesium directly affects heart health as well!

  • Magnesium is another important factor for optimum muscle health, and that includes heart muscles too. It has been proven by several studies that insufficient magnesium intake is directly linked to hypertension, arrhythmia, and atherosclerosis.

Recommended daily consumption of magnesium

Adult males (age 19 or above) should consume a minimum of 420 mg of magnesium every day. When adult females should take 320 mg daily at the minimum.

Final thoughts: Does magnesium alkalize your body?

So, does magnesium alkalize your body? Yes. When our body’s pH balance gets disturbed and become acidic, one thing is certain, that there’s a magnesium deficiency in the body. As I said earlier, we usually do not care about minerals in general, let alone caring about magnesium specifically. That’s the reason almost 80% of the total US population has a magnesium deficiency, according to a nationwide medical survey.

This data gets scarier when it reveals that people in an average American household consume only 40% of their daily minimum need for magnesium. And this can cause serious consequences including death.

Best Low Carb Protein Shake for Ketosis

3 dietary characteristics of a ketogenic diet

Low in carbohydrates, high in fat and moderate in protein. This type of diet puts you into ketosis, a metabolic state where your body burns fat for energy rather than carbohydrates, its normal source of energy. Best low carb protein shake(s) for ketosis designed for low carbohydrate diets will meet your needs if you want to follow a ketogenic diet. Ask your doctor before making major dietary changes.

A ketosis diet – more correctly called a ketogenic diet – is a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet. It’s similar to the Atkins and other low-carb diets. In our body carbohydrates are converted into glucose, but with a diet low in sugars, the body puts itself in a metabolic state called ketosis.

The body transforms triglycerides into glycerol and fatty acids, which the liver transforms into ketones (a process called ketogenesis). The massive reduction in blood sugar levels and the resting of the pancreas, combined with the increase in ketones, offer many health benefits.

best low carb protein shake

Protein Ingredients:

If you are on a ketogenic diet, you need a moderate amount of protein in your diet. If you consume too much protein, your liver will convert part of the protein into glucose to use for energy. This slows down the transition to fat burning for energy.

The protein intake must remain balanced to prevent muscle mass loss and not to interfere with ketosis.

On average, your body needs 0.8 grams of protein per 2.2 pounds of its weight if you are sedentary and 0.9 grams if you are active, although you may need up to 150 grams of protein per day in the first few weeks of a ketogenic diet.

The best low carb protein shake for ketosis

Raspberry Ketogenic Shake best low carb protein shake

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. Diet Whey Vanilla
  • 100ml organic soy milk
  • 2 tbsp. ricotta cheese
  • 25g fresh raspberries
  • 1 tbsp. nuts
  • 1 tbsp. chia seeds

Instructions

  • In a blender, pour in the soy milk.
  • Add the protein powder, ricotta, raspberries, and nuts.
  • Mix until you obtain a smooth and perfectly homogeneous mixture.
  • Transfer to a tall glass and add the chia seeds.
  • Mix with a stick to distribute the chia.
  • You just managed to make the best carb protein shake for ketosis 🙂

Starter phase of the low carb high-protein diet

In any case, it is during the first 3 days that the body will draw the most from its fat reserves, to make up for the lack of starchy foods, sugars, and fats provided by the diet. The body will then produce ketone substances (resulting in rapid weight loss and the need to drink more than usual).

The ketosis principle will act like amphetamines, “doping” intellectual functions, promoting tone, resistance and also serving as an appetite suppressant.

what to eat on keto diet
  • You should eat at breakfast: 1 protein sachet of diet, with tea or coffee (unsweetened) and 100g of milk product with 20% fat.
  • 10-hour snack with a protein bar, or a shake preparation bag, or protein drink (optional and reserved mainly for very active people and men)
  • At lunch, you will eat 1 protein sachet of diet + vegetables low in glycemic index (eggplant, asparagus, cauliflower, celery stick, endive, leeks, cucumber, green bean, bell pepper, turnip, salad or tomato). A seasoning is allowed, at a rate of 2 tablespoons of olive oil per day, or rapeseed oil, vinegar, strong mustard + 1 plain dairy product.
  • Snack of 16h with a bag of preparation for a milkshake, or protein shake.
  • At dinner, a protein sachet of diet + vegetables low in glycemic index + 1 plain dairy product.

You must drink at least 1.5 to 2 liters of mineral water. Coffee and tea are allowed but must be consumed without sugar. Other drinks are prohibited during this first phase.

1. Classic ketogenic diet:

There are several variations of the ketogenic diet and you can adapt it to your training objectives. The classic keto diet is extremely high in fat such as eggs and avocado, with 5% carbohydrates and 10 to 20% protein.

2. Targeted ketogenic diet:

If you exercise regularly, the targeted ketogenic diet allows you to consume more carbohydrates before and after a workout to fuel your body and promote recovery.

3. The ketogenic diet rich in protein:

For muscle development, high protein ketogenic diets provide more protein and a little less fat to support muscle growth and promote recovery while reducing carbohydrate intake to a minimum.

If you consume 2200 to 2400 calories, your daily nutritional intake should include 20 g of carbohydrates, 170 g of protein and 160 to 180 g of fat. However, this plan can cause you to contract the “keto flu”. This condition is due to your body’s reaction and adaptation to lower carbohydrate levels but you should not suffer from it for more than a few days.

If you have trouble giving up your favorite carbohydrates, try sweet potatoes, yams, and oats as substitutes.

Ideas for high-protein keto programs

Breakfast: bacon, eggs, avocado

Pre-workout: broccoli, chicken, and zucchini with cheese on top

Training snack: a handful of nuts, seeds, and berries

Post-training: asparagus steak surrounded by bacon

Dinner: Peppers stuffed with mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce and pepperoni

high-protein keto program

If you wish to start this diet, you will have to reorient your diet by consuming on average 70% of fat on your total energy intake. You will also need to consume only 10% sugars and 20% protein. You can therefore eat as much meat, sausages, and cheese as you want, as well as butter, fresh cream, and oil.

You will also have to remove all carbohydrate-rich foods such as starchy foods, bread, some fruits and of course all pastries and pastries.

However, you can use sweeteners or low sugar dark chocolate during this diet. Even if this diet is effective, it is still difficult to implement since many foods are banned.

Attention

Don’t eat too much cheese that contains a lot of protein because it can trigger the production of glucose from certain amino acids.

Nuts and seeds are rich in omega-6 fatty acids (except macadamia), which our bodies have too much of. This can cause inflammation, which in turn can interfere with keto-adaptation.

The same applies to vegetable oils (rapeseed, sunflower, etc.) that are too rich in omega-6.

What are the foods to avoid?

foods to avoid on keto diet

In short, any carbohydrate-rich food should be removed:

  • Sweet foods: soda, fruit juices, smoothies, cake, ice cream, candy, etc.
  • Cereals or starches: products based on flour, wheat, rice, pasta, etc.
  • Fruits: all fruits in large quantities, except small portions of fruit such as berries.
  • Vegetables: lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans.
  • Root and tuber vegetables: carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips.
  • Alcohol: Due to its carbohydrate content, many alcoholic beverages can help you get out of the ketosis state.
  • Some sugar-free dietetic foods: often high in alcoholic sugar (polyol, polyalcohol or glycol), such as xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, maltitol which can affect blood sugar levels and therefore ketosis.

What are the effects of a low carb diet program?

First, we aim for a lower blood sugar level. After a meal containing carbohydrates, glucose reaches the bloodstream, causing an increase in blood sugar levels.

As a result, the pancreas secretes insulin. This hormone gives the body the green light to transport glucose from the blood to the muscles and liver, where it will be stored as glycogen. When the glycogen reserves are filled, the body begins to transform the glycogen into fat, since the fat reserves are indefinitely extensible.

Sweet foods containing a lot of sugar, but also wheat flour products bring glucose to the blood very quickly. A lot of insulin is therefore secreted to lower blood sugar levels until they return to optimal levels. During this short period of time, a very large amount of glucose passes into the bloodstream – so much so, in fact, that the body will report an undersupply of energy.

A direct consequence: hunger, although the energy is there. By giving in to the craving, energy will again be brought to the body, thus causing an energy overload; a problem easily solved by the body: it will store this excess energy in fat. In a low carb diet, little carbohydrate is consumed, which keeps blood sugar levels rather low and therefore insulin secretion equally low. In fact, the body will not have to store energy as glycogen or, of course, as fat.

Final thoughts: Best low carb protein shake for ketosis

Low carb also generally helps to prevent cravings. The reason? Blood sugar levels are kept at normal levels by avoiding the consumption of sweet foods and drinks that cause it to rise.

It is particularly important to stress that fat is only burned when a caloric deficit is created, even in a low-carbon diet; that is, the energy intake must be less than the caloric expenditure.

Bentonite Clay Colon Cleanse Instructions

Bentonite clay colon cleanse and the best colon cleanse recipe

Bentonite is derived from weathered volcanic ash deposits whose main component is a hydrated aluminum silicate called montmorillonite. Depending on the location where the source is, bentonite may contain magnesium, iron, and calcium or sodium. Bentonite clay colon cleanse can improve the functioning of the bowel and other organs.

The benefits of a colon cleansing with bentonite is that bentonite activity removes the old fecal matter from the walls of the intestines. It helps to remove accumulated toxins and parasites, support the immune system, restore bowel balance and strength, and stimulate and nourish organs.

bentonite clay colon cleanse

Bentonite and psyllium husk

Bentonite has been used for centuries by native peoples throughout the world as a bowel cleansing for the purpose of spiritual awakening.

Hydrated bentonite absorbs toxins and heavy metals, pesticides and free radicals that reside in the intestinal tract. Furthermore, medical research has shown the positive effects of psyllium on IBD (Crohn’s Disease and Colitis). Psyllium acts as prebiotics – it helps to heal the inner lining of the inflamed intestine. Psyllium husk has laxative effects and helps with various digestive problems, both in diarrhea and constipation.

Many researchers suggest that psyllium has a strong role in preventing gut cancer. It’s proven to lower blood cholesterol and presumably also treats hyperglycemia, obesity and many other diseases.

These are natural cleansers – colon health and natural weight loss is the result. The origin of bentonite is Canada.

Body toxicity

The colon is the garbage dump of the body, through which most of the waste we generate passes. After years of an incorrect diet, it becomes a real black hole that will cause a lot of diseases and will poison and contaminate our blood.

Although we visit the bathroom every day, traces of fecal matter accumulate in the intestinal villi. Fecal bacteria do a part of the cleaning work, but there may remain waste that solidifies and causes the diameter of the intestine to decrease, the decaying toxins pass to the blood and damage other vital organs, such as the brain, kidneys, etc.

Early warning signs are headaches, tiredness, bad skin color, dull eyes, heaviness, drowsiness, painful joints, the appearance of rheumatism and ailments that are attributed to age but have their origin in a dirty colon.

If there’s a lot of acidity in your body, it will be very difficult for you to lose weight, according to Liz Swann Miller, author of “Red Tea Detox” – a successful and well-researched program for detoxification and weight loss. The human organism has the ability to eliminate toxins by itself, but only if the toxins are not in excessive amounts. Some natural remedies such as psyllium husk and bentonite clay can help with a body cleanse and weight loss.

Related: Find out your body toxicity score 

digestive

How do we clean the colon?

There are different methods, the so-called colon hydrotherapy, which needs several sessions to do the complete cleansing and has to be done in a center with specialized equipment, and another simpler method that can be carried out at home.

Overloading toxins damages several processes in the body, including metabolism, says Gittleman. The psyllium fiber absorbs moisture and swells in the colon, helping to facilitate bowel movements and eliminate toxins. The bentonite clay absorbs toxins and removes years of accumulated material in the colon, according to Jacqueline Krohn and Frances Taylor, authors of “Natural Detoxification”.

Three elements must be used: hydrated Bentonite, which is a clay with a highly astringent power, meaning that it can absorb 5 times its size by retaining all the decomposing fecal substance that may be in the small and large intestine. We have to help the process with a seed of a plant (Psyllium) that is very rich in fiber and at the same time facilitates the transit due to its gelatinous state.

The process is as follows: in a large glass add one tablespoon of liquid bentonite (pour 2 dl of water into a glass and add 1 teaspoon of purified clay – use a wooden spoon, mix and let sit for 12 hours for the clay to settle at the bottom) and another teaspoon of psyllium, stir well for 1 minute and drink immediately. If necessary you can drink another glass of water afterward. This must be done at least an hour and a half after a meal and two hours before another, that is, it must be done at intervals between meals, for example, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Do this 4 times for at least 1 month, (i.e. one day per week) if you notice that you haven’t finished the process you can consume this mixture up to a maximum of 2 months.

This cleaning can be done every two years; then it will only take a month to do it. Once done the first time, you will notice that many of your symptoms disappear or go away. It is also the best prevention you can do for colon cancer.

And this process is effective because of its supposed (not all proven) healing and pharmacological properties. It is true that clay has been a widely used compound for centuries for the treatment of the aforementioned health problems. This does not mean that all types of clay are good, magnificent or even magical. It all depends on the chemical components involved in its formation, as well as on the content of all the mineral elements.

The bentonite clay can be taken orally (taken through the mouth) or applied locally (applied directly to the skin).

Let’s know the benefits of bentonite clay colon cleanse

bentonite clay colon cleanse benefits
  • You can detoxify the whole body, as it removes heavy minerals and toxins.
  • Bentonite clay colon cleanse can be performed as an alternative treatment instead of a traditional enema, which is useful for people with digestive problems. Orally it is not assimilated by the organism, and it is expelled as such.
  • Applying bentonite clay to the skin will help cure eczema and mild skin conditions. It also soothes the skin, reduces inflammation, treats blemishes and heals scars.
  • Using it as bath salts will cleanse the body of the bacteria and act as a relaxing agent.
  • A little clay in a glass of water is advisable to make a mouthwash.
  • You can also prepare a mask for the face; it will help to keep your skin in perfect condition.
  • Another benefit of bentonite clay is that its use helps to keep the skin healthy and soft and cleans clogged pores.
  • It can be used to replace talcum powder.

A note of caution

The use of clay is not recommended during chemotherapy, together with antibiotics, the first four months of pregnancy, and after giving birth, for breastfeeding up to 7 months, and for children under 5 years of age. Apart from that clay can be drunk for several months with intermediate weekly breaks.

FDA warning about Best Bentonite: Some bentonite clay products (such as “Best Bentonite Clay” which is sold as a fine powder on Amazon.com and on the Best Bentonite website) contain elevated lead levels and may pose a lead poisoning risk.

Psyllium husk together with clay can cause constipation. It can be treated with vitamin C, magnesium or some other natural remedies. In addition, psyllium can cause bloating or gas and interact with some medications, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Do not take psyllium if you have difficulty swallowing or if you suffer from chronic kidney disease.

Health Benefits and pH of Coconut Oil

Is it alkaline or acidic?

After many studies, there is no longer any doubt that coconut oil is extraordinary for our health. It has proven to help you lose weight, improve the immune system, have antioxidant activity, and countless cosmetic uses. What is the pH of coconut oil? Let’s find out!

There are two types of this kind of functional superfood: refined and extra virgin. The first is made from dried coconut, while the second is made with fresh coconut. Normally, coconut oil is found in a liquid state at high temperatures, only getting solid and white below 25 degrees. The normal thing is that it does not spoil or become stale even when stored for some time.

pH value of coconut oil

The coconut fruit itself is alkaline, but when the heat is used during the manufacturing process the pH of coconut oil becomes acidic. On the pH scale, it tests at 3.5-5.5 (acidic).

Health benefits of coconut oil

To realize the beneficial effects on health, experts recommend regular consumption of one or two tablespoons daily. By consuming this powerful coconut oil on a daily basis, you tend to enjoy the following health benefits:

  • Promotes satiety

Because of the fat content, coconut oil has a differentiated digestion pattern. It stays longer in the stomach than carbohydrate, for example, which increases the sensation of satiety. With reduced appetite, it is easier to hold the desire to feed on snacks all day, a habit that can sabotage a proper diet and, consequently, the desire to lose weight.

  • Improves constipation

By having quick absorption and solubility, coconut oil is also a friend of the intestine. Its components act by normalizing the intestinal transit. The beneficial actions for the intestine are also worth in the case of the loose bowel as it helps to eliminate harmful bacteria and promotes healthy intestinal flora growth.

  • Reduces cholesterol

The good functioning of the thyroid, favored by the consumption of coconut oil, also guarantees the reduction of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and the elevation of HDL (good cholesterol) cholesterol.

  • Strengthens the immune system

Another benefit of coconut oil is the strengthening of the immune system, as it acts in the fight against the attack of bacteria and fungi that threaten our health and even improves the absorption of nutrients, reinforcing the body’s defenses. This is due to lauric acid, also present in breast milk and that has the power to fight numerous infections.

  • Combats premature aging

Coconut oil promotes the reduction of free radicals present in the body, responsible for cell aging. This happens, thanks to the action of vitamin E components present in the oil. To a certain extent, free radicals are beneficial to the body, but the buildup can cause not only premature aging but also the development of cancer due to the oxidation of healthy cells.

  • Prevents heart disease and high blood pressure

Coconut oil is highly rich in saturated fats. Saturated fats not only raise healthy cholesterol (known as HDL) in your body but also help convert “bad” LDL cholesterol into beneficial cholesterol.

By increasing HDL in the body, it helps promote heart health and reduces the risk of heart disease.

  • Cures UTI, kidney infection and protects the liver

Coconut oil is known to clarify and cure urinary (UTI) and kidney infections. The oil works as a natural antibiotic, stopping the coating of lipids in bacteria and killing them. There is also a study which shows that coconut oil directly protects the liver from damage.

  • Prevention and treatment of cancer

Coconut oil has two qualities that help you fight cancer. First, because of the ketones produced in the digestive system. Tumor cells cannot access energy in ketones and depend on glucose. It is believed that a ketogenic diet may be a possible component to help cancer patients recover.

  • Improves energy and endurance

Coconut oil is easy to digest, but it also produces longer sustained energy and boosts your metabolism. By taking an extra virgin coconut oil, you can get maximum benefits because the oil goes directly into the liver for energy conversion.

  • Improves digestion, reduces ulcers in the stomach and ulcerative colitis

Coconut oil improves digestion and intestinal health by destroying maleic bacteria and candida. The imbalance of Candida, especially, can decrease the gastric acid that causes inflammation and poor digestion.

  • Reduces symptoms of gallbladder disease and pancreatitis

The coconut oil does not need the pancreatic enzymes to be broken, so taking coconut oil softens the tension in the pancreas.

In addition, this superfood is so easy to digest that it has also been known to improve the symptoms of gallbladder disease.

  • Helps in the treatment of osteoporosis

Another of the incredible benefits of coconut oil is that it helps in the treatment of osteoporosis. This is possible because it increases the absorption of calcium in the intestine. Research with osteoporosis found that coconut oil not only increases the volume and structure of bone in individuals but also decreased bone loss due to osteoporosis.

  • Helps in weight loss

Because of the instant energy of coconut oil, it is no wonder it is beneficial in weight loss. This helps to burn fat, decrease appetite. There are also studies on its use in abdominal fat loss, as it has been proven that the consumption of coconut oil favors the elimination of the fat that is deposited in the belly. The exact reasons are still unknown by science, but it is believed that the oil acts directly on some hormones linked to the accumulation of these reserves in the abdomen.

Related: Coconut weight loss recipe

  • Helps in hormonal balance

The use of coconut oil also benefits your hormones. Coconut oil can help balance the hormones naturally because it is a great source of saturated fat, including lauric acid. Studies have found that coconut oil can be an excellent fat to consume during menopause and can also have positive effects on estrogen levels.

  • Regulates bowel function

In both cases of constipation or even in diarrhea, the coconut fat components act by normalizing bowel functions. At the same time, lauric acid, through monolaurin, helps to eliminate pathogenic (enemy) bacteria, protecting and favoring the growth of the “friendly flora.”

  • Hydrates the skin

The coconut oil contains vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that helps your skin look beautiful. It is good especially if you have dry skin. It also helps fight dermatitis, which is why it is present as the main ingredient in skin products.

  • Boosts hair health

Because the coconut oil is rich in proteins that help repair hair, you will achieve a soft and radiant hair. You can also use it directly as a conditioner.

what coconut oil to choose

Final thoughts: Health benefits and pH of coconut oil

Coconut oil comes with numerous health benefits and a very favorable pH for the body as highlighted above.

Furthermore, when it comes to benefiting from the properties of coconut oil, you need to pay attention to its various formats. The virgin coconut oil has distinct beneficial properties of the dry coconut oil, or copra – most commonly found on the market.

In contrast, hydrogenated coconut oil should be avoided, and preference should be given to cold-pressed organic extra virgin oils which, in addition to being healthier and retain their original properties, have a more pleasing coconut flavor, and might be as much of the copra version as the virgin coconut.

Solvent-extracted oils must also be avoided since the use of hexane can be socially harmful.

Balance 7 ph dietary supplement review

How can I raise my pH level naturally?

If you are thinking of buying Balance 7 ph dietary supplement, you first need to know if it’s really effective. Read the following facts.

Through the dietary journey where you strive to look, feel and function your best, it is important to keep in mind that we are basically a molecular unit with some degree of acidity that can be controlled. Every living or non-living organism has some type of acid dynamic that is essential to its molecular structure for its basic integral structure.

Acidity is something that everyone must be familiar with, one cannot discard the fact that we have a certain level of acidity in our body, and even the slightest fluctuations and alterations can greatly affect your body and cause certain dysfunctions. 

It is also very important to know which foods can trigger this dangerous response to the weakening of the body’s pH balance.

pH scale

An acidic state of the body can cause a serious lack of oxygenation in our cells. It is also a fact that no proper oxygen supplies in the blood cause mold, bacteria, cancer, viruses, and unwanted micro-level creatures to thrive.

The first thing that happens to the body when it dies, is the blood starts losing its 7.4 Ph level, this is when the body starts to rot.

==> Related: Test your pH levels

Acidic levels are very important in the body

Alkaline foods

As these levels act as a defense mechanism for the body, it is advised to consume a lot of Vitamin C in the winter as it will help the body to destroy alien microbes thriving inside us.

Nevertheless, when the body gets too acidic, the acid levels start to wreak havoc on your body. The acidic state starts eating up tissue inside the body such as the intestinal tissue.

This process won’t be noticeable, but over time, over decades, the body starts to react to the levels of acidity, the tissues start to get thinner and weaker. On a noticeable level, calcium begins to drop in the body when it is in a state that is more acidic, thus teeth, bones, and ligaments start to weaken as well.

This huge importance of the power of pH balance is unfortunately quite underrated and people are not aware of the fact that the body must maintain a level of balance in the system. It is therefore advised by doctors and dieticians that we consume plenty of fruits and vegetables.

The recommended serving amount is 8 since it is believed that through this consumption, our body begins to protect itself from the overly acidic nature of our body.

Balance 7 ph dietary supplement claims

Balance 7 ph dietary supplement

In fact, the recommended level is that our foods should be no less than 70 percent alkaline.

This is where Balance 7 pH dietary supplement comes into play. It is a dietary supplement that helps the body maintain a healthy level of pH.

It claims that it triggers a burst of alkalinity in the body. Since diets are known to be far too acidic, Balance 7 ph dietary supplement has the solution by giving you a high level of alkalinity to balance out the acid.

The supplement comes in a very high rating in the spectrum of acidity levels and pH, unlike many other alkaline drinks that come in a slightly higher than average levels of alkaline.

  • This means that it still won’t make a balance of 7.4 in the body, if the average diet of the person is less than 6, then it is very important that one takes something that has a higher level of pH.
  • In the case of Balance 7 pH dietary supplement, it comes in a level of 11 in the spectrum of acidity and alkalinity. This is definitely something that should show in the actual study or the feeling of the body after taking the supplement. If the supplement comes to around 11 at the pH level, this means that it will definitely help the body achieve a good balance.
  • One point that Balance 7 ph dietary supplement brings to the table is the fact it is essential for diabetic people since they always suffer from low pH levels. They are also going to experience other issues of bone weakening, fatigue and stomach problems. By consuming the water of alkaline that Balance 7 ph dietary supplement is introducing to the market, diabetic people are expected to see a major change and improvement quickly.
  • That Balance 7 ph dietary supplement also holds that by consuming the water, you will fight off cancer, since it cannot live in high alkaline levels.

It’s impossible to change your blood Ph levels

blood cells

However, this is not as important as it seems. Sure, balanced pH levels are essential for the body, but we can never change the Ph levels in the blood.

Drinking alkaline water makes zero sense whatsoever,” Dr. Schwarcz said. He is a known author, professor, and critic at McGill University. He is also the director of McGill’s Office for Science and Society OSS, which is dedicated to demystifying science to the public. He hosts a weekly radio show and is known, via his science popularization efforts as Dr. Joe.

  • The concept of alkaline treatment certainly depends on the individual’s health condition

The body will become better with well-balanced ph levels; nevertheless, it is also going to be something that medications as Balance 7 pH dietary supplement cannot control, the alkaline water does literally nothing, many doctors suggest.

  • The basic premise is that the body will react to high pH levels and heal itself

It is simply highly unlikely. Moreover, the study that was done on alkaline levels was taken out of context. The body already has mechanisms in place to deal with this issue. When the body begins to produce too much acid, it responds by giving the body more alkaline substance.

On another note, the pH balance can also be done simply by consuming healthy foods like vegetables, drinking more water throughout the day, drinking less coffee and alcohol which are one of the most acidic beverages you can consume next to fried and sugary foods.

“What has happened in this case is a bit of scientific fact was taken completely out of context and woven into a fabric of nonsense”

Schwarcz adds. “Some of the healthy foods limited by this diet are things like mushrooms, tropical fruits, and berries,» Dr. Brissette said. “I would encourage people to choose the foods they consume according to their nutritional value, rather than looking at each individual product and wondering whether it is acidic or alkaline.”

All you need to do is stick to a healthy diet

These are things one can easily do on their own, they do not need alkaline water, instead, what they need is a healthy diet that has a lot of micronutrients in the body, that itself is going to help the body function better at a healthier rate.

The issue that people face most of the time is not necessarily acidity, it is toxicity in the body, and also exactly what the Red Teatox helps you with.

Unlike balance 7 ph dietary supplement, red tea is recommended by doctors
  • It is a tea that anyone can use, it tastes amazing and it has a lot of documented benefits that have been shown in studies countless times, it helps the body fight off the toxicity in the foods that the industry produces, it also helps you lose weight which is also a bigger problem nowadays than just acidity.
  • The Red Teatox is also one of the greatest drinks you can get, it can be highly customized, you can add various ingredients and herbs to the tea such as cinnamon and ginger which will further enhance the efficiency of the already efficient tea.
  • The Red Teatox is also great because it was developed by Liz Swann Miller who is a known dietician and expert in fitness that has helped people achieve their peak health level in no time. She is a very trustworthy individual who has the credibility to back off what she says.
  • Furthermore, the Red Teatox has the benefit of being an antioxidant which is great because it is going to fix your body from inside out.
  • The Balance 7 pH Supplement product is not a known product, there has not been any substantial evidence on why it works, it does not necessarily show any tangible result in research or academia in the lab, while the Red tea has clearly been shown to have significant results on those that took the tea regularly.
red tea detox vs balance 7 ph dietary supplement

Final thoughts: Balance 7 ph dietary supplement

The levels of acid and alkaline are definitely important in the body, but this does not mean that we have to take alkaline water of high level in order to make the balance, it only means we can do this by fixing our diet, drinking more water, being more active and drinking the Red tea since it shows real results with the people who took it.

Our bodies are smart enough to figure out that we must increase alkalinity, that is why the kidneys process these unhealthy acidity levels through the urine.

The research that has been done on the alkaline diet supplements shows that it is true that alkaline levels are essential in the body, but we cannot change them by actually drinking more alkaline. However, what we can do is to drink more water, be healthier overall and the body will respond on its own.

Is Dextrose Bad for You?

What is dextrose sugar

Dextrose is a form of simple sugar that is derived from corn. This sugar has over time got a couple of uses in medicine and food industry. It can be used in hospitals to treat low blood sugar and dehydration and also be used in the food industry as a sweetener. This sugar is quite similar to fructose. It is also chemically identical to glucose. This simple sugar together with other sugars such as fructose and glucose are found in foods such as bread, sugar, and honey. What this means is that we consume these sugars on a daily basis. Now, this is where the question of whether is dextrose good for you or not, becomes relevant.

Is dextrose bad for you

Certain health conditions and dextrose consumption

In this brief, we are going to discuss the question of whether Dextrose is good or bad for you and also see who are at a higher risk of getting severe side effects after consumption.

As a matter of fact, people with certain health conditions should be particularly careful with Dextrose consumption.

Diabetics

People battling any type of diabetes should watch their dextrose intake. The reason for this is that if they don’t keep their carbohydrates intake at par, their blood sugar levels may spike and cause more problems.

A study published in 2005 noted that health specialists should refrain from using dextrose sugar to diabetic patients if there are other alternatives. Their argument was that these solutions can cause problems in controlling diabetic’s blood sugar.

Related: How to prevent the development and progression of diabetes

Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

For people with chronic kidney disease are recommended foods sweetened with dextrose rather than with fructose.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology in 2007, fructose speeds up the progression of chronic kidney disease, unlike the dextrose which doesn’t have any side effects.

However, this study was a preliminary study using rat cells and hence further studies are needed to support the claims.

Heart Disease Risk

Another study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2014 found that there is a closer link between total added sugar and increased heart disease.

According to research, people get over 15 percent of their calories from added sugar. For this reason, if you don’t take enough precaution, then there is a likelihood of developing heart diseases.

How can dextrose affect your health

The fact is that a healthy body breaks down sugar quickly to use them for energy. However, if an individual consumes a lot of sugar, the body will not be able to break down all of it for the body’s energy needs. What will happen in this case is that the body will store extra sugars in fat.

This means that while the body needs sugar for the body’s energy needs, there should be a limit.

Consuming too much of it can be fatal and increases the risk of the following:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart Diseases
  • Acne and other skin conditions
  • Low energy
  • Weight gain
  • Depression

To answer the above question, then consider dextrose as a normal sugar that in large quantities can spike the body’s blood sugar levels. I bet you have already heard several claims that sugar in large numbers can have a health risk in your body.

I don’t think we can avoid dextrose because it is a sweetener that we usually find in many foods but we can take control of the amount that we consume daily. We now have to take closer research about the question: ”Is dextrose bad for you?” and eventually get the answer.

Medical Use of dextrose

use of dextrosis in medicine

Besides being a common sweetener in the food industry, dextrose is also used in medicine. It’s especially used to treat diabetes. When the patient gets weak and the body doesn’t have enough sugars for the body’s energy requirement, dextrose is given to them to get the sugar level back to normal.

This sugar is also used in the form of a gel or pills so you can always buy it in the chemists as an over the counter medicine.

The doctors use bigger amounts of dextrose to save lives

In this case, the higher the amount the bigger the kick. The smaller dose is used by the people who don’t suffer from diabetes but rather feel weak due to low blood sugar.

A person who is suffering from diabetes should at all times have dextrose gel and the tablets. You need to have something with you to take in case the blood sugar gets dangerously low when you are at home or going on with your daily routine.

Dextrose should be used safely

If you are suffering from high blood pressure, then you should avoid it completely. You have to seek advice and guidance from a professional before you buy them over the counter. If you have high blood sugars, then the professional can propose an alternative remedy in case danger strikes.

It should also be avoided especially if you are suffering from edema, peripheral or pulmonary type.

Dextrose is only recommended for those people who are suffering from diabetes and those that get weak due to low blood sugars in the blood. This means that it is not recommended to take it as a precaution.

It is also useful for people with kidney problems. According to studies, unlike fructose, it didn’t cause any visible complications in patients that had kidney disease. They had an easy time processing it and it didn’t in any way speed up the progression of this condition.

Dextrose in Fitness

dextrose can be use as a post-workout supplement

Dextrose is also rich in fast-absorbing carbohydrates and that’s why it’s an effective post-workout supplement. This sugar is also very popular with bodybuilders since it’s easy for your body to break it down and use it for energy.

As a matter of fact, to gain fitness, you need to eat well and take some supplements. For this reason, supplements such as Dextrose powder can help in a great way.

Several studies argue that it helps in burning fat. It will help with getting rid of the excess fat without burning your muscle mass as other supplements would do.

There are some protein shakes with dextrose added that are recommended after the workout. Their main purpose is to restore the energy lost during the workout. If you take the right amounts of Dextrose, there are no chances of developing any complications.

So, is dextrose bad for you?

woman eating dextrose sugar

The answer to the question of whether it is good or bad for you depends on your health conditions and the amount consumed. If you are allergic to dextrose, then it is wise to avoid foods containing it.

There are several instances in which you should either avoid or minimize consumption. It is therefore recommended that you take caution and seek medical advice and guidance.

In some cases, you shouldn’t consume dextrose at all. Some of these instances include:

  • When you are bleeding
  • When you are pregnant
  • When you are breastfeeding
  • When you have swelling of extremities e.g. feet, legs, and arms.
  • When you have a deficiency of potassium in the bloodstream.

If taken in excess, Dextrose can as well lead to the spike in blood sugars. However, if it is digested rapidly, it may not cause any health problems.

Dextrose is just as bad for you as any other sugar

They all have the same advance side effects if consumed in excess. Taking too much of dextrose is just as taking too much of other types of sugar.

Dextrose is bad as any other sugar
  • It can be fatal especially for people having some conditions such as hypokalemia, diabetes, edema, and hyperglycemia.
  • Those people with diabetes should ensure that they limit their sugar intake. The reason for this is because sugars such as dextrose can spike the blood sugar and worsen the condition.
  • Too much sugar in the body can increase the risk of developing heart problems

For this reason, The American Heart Association has recommended that women shouldn’t take more than 24 grams of sugar in a day and men shouldn’t exceed 36 grams of sugar daily.

When I’m talking about sugar, I’m referring to all the following types available in the market today; corn syrup, honey, table sugar, brown sugar, fructose, dextrose, maltose, lactose and also sucrose.

Side effects

Excessive consumption has some short-term and long-term negative side effects. Some of short-term side effects include confusion and severe allergic reaction. Swelling or infection in case the sugar is injected and headaches in case it is consumed in large quantities.

Long-term side effects are:

  • Hyperglycemia
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Tooth Decay
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Weight gain
  • Heart diseases.

Final thoughts

Dextrose is a type of sugar and for this reason, it can have the same health risks as any other sugar. This means that it is imperative to keep your sugar consumption at par.

That is if you want to lead a healthy life. And if not, however, consider carefully about its excessive use because you may end up developing some serious health conditions such as diabetes and heart diseases.