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COLLAGEN FOR GUT HEATLH
Did you know that collagen is essential for gut health? It supports digestion, reduces acid reflux, and alleviates abdominal pain. Nutritionist Mayra León Camargo highlights its role in nutrient absorption and neurotransmitter production, impacting mood and overall health. According to gastroenterologist Dr. María Fernanda González Medina, type III collagen strengthens the intestinal barrier, preventing bacteria from entering the bloodstream and causing health issues like autoimmune diseases and digestive problems.
Hydrolysed collagen peptides, from bovine or marine sources, are easily absorbed. Take 2.5 to 20 g daily to improve gut health, with 20 g potentially reducing bloating and digestive symptoms. Consistent intake, either in the morning or with fibre-rich foods, is recommended for optimal benefits.
So now in my morning cup of coffee I add chaga mushroom, cinnamon, coconut oil, and collagen with macadamia nut milk and a tiny bit of honey.
1/3rd OF YOUR PILLOW WEIGHT MAY BE BUGS AND DEAD SKIN
Yes, it's possible that up to one-third of your pillow's weight could be composed of dust mites, dead skin, and their droppings. This can pose allergy and asthma risks, even though dust mites don't spread disease directly. The proteins in their feces and decomposing bodies are common allergens that can trigger symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes.
What to Do About It:
- Regular Washing: Wash your pillows every few months in hot water (at least 130°F/54°C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. Use mild detergent and dry thoroughly to prevent mold growth.
- Freezing: For pillows that can’t be washed, you can freeze them for 24 hours to kill dust mites.
- Protective Covers: Use dust mite-proof covers on pillows and mattresses to create a barrier against mites. These covers can help reduce allergens significantly.
- Replace Pillows: It’s recommended to replace pillows every one to two years to minimise dust mite accumulation.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Keep your bedroom clean and free from dust by vacuuming regularly with a HEPA filter vacuum and reducing clutter where dust can accumulate.
Taking these steps can help reduce dust mite populations in your pillows, leading to better sleep and fewer allergy symptoms.
ANCESTRAL DENTAL NUTRITION
Periodontal disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and even dementia. According to periodontist and functional medicine practitioner Dr Alvin Danenberg, simply changing diet and lifestyle habits hold the key to reversing this major health threat. In his opinion, a carbohydrate-rich diet, along with processed flour and sugar products, causes caries and gum disease.
Increased consumption of cereals has created a marked increase in plaque, while sugars in syrups, juices, sodas and concentrates produce acids that cause tooth decay. Dr Danenberg points out that this combination in our modern diets is due to many people remaining uninformed about oral care, increasing the risk of disease. Bottom line: poor nutrition, toxicity and chronic inflammation triggered by poor oral health puts our lives at risk, and all of this is avoidable.
Dr Danenberg strongly recommends ‘ancestral nutrition’ – simply the practice of consuming unrefined, unprocessed, whole, natural foods. He is against the use of antibacterial mouthwash products: ‘Bacteria in the mouth should not be killed, but “fed” to encourage the growth of beneficial micro-organisms. This is because mouth bacteria produce hydrogen peroxide that keeps harmful bacteria under control.’
We are encouraged by the news on Xylitol in dental products and its ability to fight gum health. We will cover this in a future post.
YOGHURT – GOOD FOR BONES!
Yoghurt is a rich source of bone-promoting nutrients and the largest study of dairy intake and bone and frailty measurements in older adults shows that eating more yoghurt improves hip bone density and a lowered risk of osteoporosis.
The study, headed by Trinity College Dublin involved more than 5 000 men and women. According to Dr Miriam Casey, senior study investigator and Consultant Physician at St James’s Hospital Dublin said: ‘The results demonstrate a significant association of bone health and frailty with a relatively simple and cheap food product.
Source: Trinity College Dublin
MY TOP FOOD FATS AND OIL REMEDIES
‘Healthy fats are not fattening – they’re de-fattening. Healthy proteins are not fattening – they’re de-fattening. All starches are fattening; all forms of sugars are fattening. If you are in very good health, yes, you can continue to have your fruits but try to consider a healthy protein, for example, cheese, before you have blueberries or before you have an apple or a pear.
Now my best oil remedies are: extra-virgin olive oil, butter, avocado oil and organic coconut oil. Try not to overcook foods with your oils. Again, the best oil remedies are when you take unprocessed, extra-virgin oils on your salads or your steamed vegetables. Butter is a very good fat, so if you want to put a lot of butter on your steamed vegetables, or a lot of extra-virgin oil on them, it’s all wonderful.' ~ Prof Majid Ali
WONDERFUL AMARANTH
Foraging for weeds can be extremely rewarding. Weeds grow in abundance and so many of them bestow extraordinary health benefits. Use them in soups, stews, salads and nourishing stir fries to add taste, texture and health building vitamins and minerals.
Abundant, self-seeding, and richly colourful, amaranth is a jewel. Both leaves and seeds are edible. This plant can reach two or even three metres in height. It is the most spectacular of all the foraged plants.
Amaranth treats anaemia; chronic fatigue; eases heavy menstrual bleeding, dysentery, coughing, itchy skin and acne and is an excellent wash for cuts, grazes wounds and even light burns. It can also be used in the rinsing water after shampooing oily hair and can be made into a pleasant tea as well as being eaten as a spinach to treat coughs, mouth infections and ulcers. Use the seed in bread baking, for muffins, pancakes and biscuits.
WHAT COLOUR IS YOUR PEE?
Have you wondered why your pee is darker on some days or brighter yellow? A surprising number of factors can impact urine colour. Red urine shows up when you’ve had beetroot or a vit B12 injection. Drugs taken for UTI’s or blood thinning can colour your urine orange. If the urine is golden brown, dark, or reddish brown, you may have haemolytic anaemia which means breakdown of your red blood cells. This condition can be caused by various popular drugs, including some that reduce cholesterol.
If you take vitamin B2 or a multivitamin that contains some riboflavin, you will pee in neon yellow! Now if your urine is dark yellow, it could be due to dehydration. However, dark urine that is unusual, or in excess, could indicate liver disease. Specifically, the presence of bile makes its way to the urine and tinges it darker yellow, brown or orange. Certain medications can also turn your urine dark yellow. The effect from these medications is temporary.
If you eat a bag of black licorice, it will make you pee green! So will asparagus, and your urine will have a weird, unpleasant smell to. Dark, cloudy yellowish-green urine may indicate the presence of a UTI. Medications can cause green urine, one is cimetidine (Tagamet) sold over-the-counter for acid reflux, and promethazine, a prescription drug used for nausea, vomiting and sedation.
A medical condition called familial benign hypercalcaemia, a rare inherited disorder, is sometimes also known as ‘blue diaper syndrome’ because children with the disorder have blue urine. Urine that appears very cloudy and white could be the result of kidney stones or high calcium or phosphorus excretion. Black urine is sometimes associated with melanoma. It can occur when red blood cells are being destroyed at a dangerously rapid pace, so you can see it sometimes when you treat a person for malaria. The colour of your urine may be related to something you consumed or a medication you’re on… but it could be a clue your body is giving you that something is wrong.
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