by Wally Bishop | Oct 16, 2023 | Garlic
As I walk in the door, my nose is swept away, and begins to follow the path. The aroma is pleasing yet, in a strange way, powerful! I know what this aroma is, and whatever the dish is, it will be delicious and packed with an array of health benefits! I smile, close my eyes, and continue toward the kitchen, knowing what awaits. Garlic!
This path has been repeated so many times as I walk in the door to a dish my wife may be preparing. The aroma and flavors may blind us to its healing power, but my body is grateful for its consumption.
Garlic has a long history of use for healing and medicinal purposes, dating back thousands of years. It possesses many powerful health benefits. Most of these health benefits come from its unique family of antioxidants in garlic called allicin and alliin.
Preparation of Garlic
Allicin and its family of compounds are formed once the cell wall structure of the garlic bulb is crushed or chopped. The enzyme alliinase is released, and within 10 to 15 minutes, many amazing healing compounds are produced through the enzymatic action.
So, crush or chop it, then let it sit before cooking. However, raw garlic will always yield higher protective potential. Raw garlic is hot and can irritate the digestive system if it isn’t mixed with other foods. Eating a lot can also create strong body odor and breath!!
What an Aroma!
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a species in the onion genus Allium. Its cousins include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onion. It is native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran and has long been a common seasoning worldwide.
Benefits of Eating Garlic
Okay, I know it smells and tastes great, but what are the benefits of eating garlic?
- It helps prevent and can even reverse some types of DNA damage. (This is a powerful benefit.)
- Garlic can help reduce LDL cholesterol.
- It is a blood thinner. (talk with your doctor before consuming a lot of garlic.)
- It helps release nitric oxide, which may help lower blood pressure and keep blood vessels flexible.
- It increases cellular glutathione levels. Glutathione is the master antioxidant in our cells. Glutathione protects our cells from toxic agents, both chemical and biological.
- It increases Nrf-2 signaling pathways. (Nrf-2 helps slow down and prevent cell damage from free radicals that cause disease and accelerated aging.)
- It can turn off the signaling process that cancerous tumors use to build a blood vessel highway that will keep them growing. (this is called anti-angiogenesis)
- It is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal.
- It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects that may protect the heart and cardiovascular system.
- It may help prevent certain cancers by suppressing specific cancer-causing genes and turning on apoptosis. Apoptosis is the natural dying of cells when they become sick. Cancer cells turn this process off.
- It helps remove toxins from the liver and may help reverse fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic liver disease.
- Garlic also has Vitamin C, B1, B2, and B6 and the minerals Calcium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Selenium.
Enjoy your garlic and try using it in a variety of ways. Adding a flavorful, yes, healthy impact doesn’t take much. You may want to give this garlic mushroom recipe a go.
How much is too much garlic? Really, has anyone ever asked?
While garlic isn’t in Vive Shake, we recommend adding both to achieve optimum wellness. To see how this whole-food nutrient-dense supplement will help you, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Oct 9, 2023 | B Vitamins
Last week, we talked about the importance of protecting your DNA and how specific nutrients, like B Vitamins, can help. Today, we want to discuss a metabolic process and a byproduct that significantly impacts cellular health – methylation and homocysteine.
You’ve probably not heard of either one; however, their impact and how they’re tied together uniquely are important to understand. Your diet has a significant influence on both the methylation process and homocysteine.
What are methylation and homocysteine?
Methylation is a key biochemical process that occurs millions and maybe even a billion times a second (I would call that warp speed)) and is critical, even essential, for the proper function of almost all of your body’s systems. Methylation helps repair your DNA, reduces inflammation, and keeps the cellular detoxification system functioning optimally. The methylation process helps recycle two very powerful molecules, glutathione (GSH) and methionine from homocysteine.
Homocysteine is a harmful protein formed during the methylation process in our bodies. In particular, The Methionine Cycle. High homocysteine levels can cause neurological conditions, stroke, heart disease, and cancers. Homocysteine can be converted to important non-harmful compounds with the proper nutrition.
For the methylation process to function optimally, it is very dependent on Selenium, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B12 (cobalamin), Vitamin B9 (folate), Choline, and the compound betaine. Betaine is an amino acid glycine derivative converted from the essential nutrient Choline. If you have low levels of these B Vitamins, homocysteine levels build because they can’t be converted to Sam-e or GSH without them.
How Does Homocysteine Affect Our Health?
As homocysteine levels increase, this can damage our DNA and increase cellular inflammation across our body. Higher homocysteine levels are associated with increased heart disease and cancer in some studies and not as much in others.
However, the other studies consistently showed that HDL (heart protective cholesterol) levels were low when homocysteine was high, while Folate, B2, B6, and B12 levels were low. We know adequate levels of these nutrients lower homocysteine levels, thereby increasing cell and heart-protective HDL cholesterol levels.
The relationship between cancer and homocysteine levels provided similar results in studies for different cancers. It isn’t very clear. They find an association between breast cancer and lower B6, B12, and Folate levels, but not necessarily because of elevated homocysteine. Still, lower levels of these nutrients are linked to a greater risk of breast and other cancers.
If you want to protect your DNA and reduce your risk of cancers and heart disease, make sure you are getting adequate levels of Selenium, B2, B6, B12, Folate, and Choline. Every day, have several servings of a variety of colorful foods from the garden to reduce your risk of disease and illness.
Almost every health organization’s common theme is to “increase our intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and nuts and seeds and reduce our intake of processed foods, red and processed meats.”
Another way to increase your intake of these B Vitamins and nutrients is to supplement your diet with Vive Shake. To see how this whole-food nutrient-dense supplement will help you, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Oct 3, 2023 | B Vitamins
B Vitamins assist in thousands of interactions in the human body, including DNA Protection. I bet you have not heard of the one we’ll discuss over the next couple of weeks. But first, a little background on why protecting your DNA is so important.
Protecting your DNA begins with what you eat and don’t eat and the chemicals you are exposed to daily. Nutritional intake is critical for all body functions. Additionally, nutrient absorption is also critical. If you can’t absorb the nutrition, does it matter? Of course, it matters.
Absorption is Key
Do you know the best way to guarantee better nutrient absorption? It starts by chewing your food really well. Like 20 to 30 times per bite! Meats may require upwards of 50 chews per bite for better digestion and nutrient absorption. The next time you eat, pay attention to how many times you chew your food. My guess is, at most, it is ten times.
The average American doesn’t realize just how vital the absorption of specific vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can be. As you will discover below, most nutrients work together in our body to make processes happen.
Protecting your DNA is Critical
Some of the body’s processes make compounds such as hormones, enzymes, and proteins, and some processes change things, such as converting the sugar in your foods into blood sugar called glucose.
Similarly, others tear or cleave things apart, such as dismantling proteins in your body tissues to make blood sugars (glucose) if you do not get enough from your diet. Toxic or damaging compounds can be produced as a by-product of some processes.
If you lack one of the nutrients vital to the process, DNA damage can occur over time, creating illness and disease.
A cell with damaged DNA replicates in a damaged state over and over. If it happens enough times, mutations occur, causing disease and illness. Did you realize how many things can damage our DNA? Think of all the things we’re exposed to that contain free radicals: cigarette smoke, charred foods, air pollutants, chemicals in processed foods, lotions, makeup, soaps, and food containers, just to name a few.
Antioxidants and nutrients from healthy, nutrient-rich foods and supplements, such as Vive Shake, neutralize free radicals, helping prevent disease and illness.
Certain nutrients, such as B Vitamins, are absolutely critical for different body processes to function. Eating a diet rich in processed, refined, and fast foods means you are missing essential nutrients that can protect you from many adverse health conditions, illnesses, and diseases. Just like you can’t build a house without wood, nails, and tools, your body systems can’t function adequately without certain nutrients in adequate amounts.
If you’re looking for an easy way to get more nutrients into your diet, consider adding Vive Shake! Contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009 to see how this whole-food, fiber-rich supplement can add to your wellness routine. Next week, we’ll talk more about how B Vitamins help your DNA and overall health.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Sep 26, 2023 | Honey
Last time, we introduced honey as nature’s medicine. Today we want to talk about a special type of honey – Unique Manuka.
Unique Manuka Honey (or UMF Honey) is a honey made from the pollen of the Manuka Tree in New Zealand. It has additional medicinal value because of compounds made specifically from this tree’s pollen. They call it the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).
Manuka Honey comes with different ratings of medicinal strength, specifying how much of the UMF is in the batch. There are imitators out there. Active Manuka is not the same as Unique Manuka Honey. Additionally, look for the UMF Certification, and the container or bottle should state it is bottled and labeled in New Zealand. Manuka Honey only comes from New Zealand.
UMF ratings specify the honey’s healing activity level.
- UMF5 to UMF9 are very low activity levels
- UMF10 to UMF15 are useful levels
- UMF16 and over are superior levels with very high activity
Cautions on Honey
Always use raw unfiltered honey from local bee growers. Local raw honey retains all of its natural healing and nutritional properties when it is raw. Once pasteurized and filtered, most of the health benefits are destroyed.
Do not give honey to children under 1 year of age.
Also, do not eat honey made from the pollen of the rhododendron flower. In rare cases, it can make you sick.
Organic Honey
If you are looking for organic honey, make sure the label says certified organic. There is no such product as organic honey unless a beekeeper has a least a 10 square mile area that is organic where their bees can roam. Bees roam up to 5 miles daily, gathering nectar and pollen.
Honey is a bit controversial. It is considered a non-vegan food, and commercial bee production, like the slaughter of commercially raised animals, is cruel and unnecessary. It also destroys a lot of bees during honey harvesting. With that said, buy from local small beekeepers who are careful not to kill bees during the harvesting of this miracle food.
Why Honey is Awesome
Honey has very powerful healing properties and can be used with a variety of spices for additional super health-boosting potential. Honey is a healthy sugar replacement and can make recipes and foods taste great while giving us health.
Make this very anti-inflammatory smoothie by mixing 16 ounces of fresh brewed green tea, 1 tbs. of raw honey, 1 tsp. turmeric, 1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon, 1 tsp. fresh ginger, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1/2 cup organic blueberries, 1/2 cup organic strawberries, 1/2 cup organic watercress juice. Blend and drink throughout the day!
Now that you know how good raw honey is for you, start using it every day. Honey will keep you buzzzzzzing, and your taste buds and your body will love you for it!
While honey isn’t an ingredient in Vive Shake, we do recommend using organic local raw honey as part of your total nutrition plan. To see how this whole-food, fiber-rich supplement can add to your wellness routine, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Sep 19, 2023 | Honey
Honey is a powerful food, it’s nature’s medicine. Raw honey is a natural antibacterial. It can knock out and even wipe out just about any type of bacteria you list, including MRSA. Additionally, honey has a long list of healing health properties and has a lot of research backing up these statements.
Would you have ever thought something so simple from nature could be so powerful and actually heal and prevent so many health issues? I knew raw honey was healthy but really didn’t know it was this powerful until I began reading the studies and research on honey. Honey belongs in your kitchen next to every NutriBullet or Vitamix and should be eaten every day, small amounts go a long way!
Honey is an amazing substance. Its use for food goes as far back as 8,500 years ago in murals found in Spain and for medicine as far back as 5,000 years ago in Greece, India, and China.
Honey is literally a gift from the honeybee! The honeybee makes honey as food for baby bees (larvae) and for food for the hive when nectar is in short supply during the winter.
Honey is mostly sugar composed of fructose and sucrose, smaller amounts of other sugars, and other nutrients and antioxidants in a water base. The honeybee transforms nectar into honey through the regurgitation of an enzymatic substance into honeycombs, and then, through evaporation of enough water, you have honey.
Yes, that is how bees make honey!
Now the Good Stuff!
Honey has outstanding health properties. It’s amazing when you see honey is just sugars, water, and a small amount of other nutrients. Fake honey does not offer the health benefits that real raw honey does. (Did you even know fake honey existed?) You always want to look for raw honey.
Research studies tell us many positive things about honey. Let’s look at a few.
- Honey can keep skin supple and can help reduce scarring because it keeps skin hydrated.
- Honey is great for digestive support because it acts as a prebiotic and kills bad bacteria.
- Honey is very effective for sore throats when mixed with lemon juice and green tea and then sipped on.
- Honey mixed with Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and green tea makes a very powerful anti-inflammatory drink. If you use a lot of cinnamon you should only use Ceylon cinnamon. The other type of cinnamon found in most grocery stores is a variety called cassia cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon has coumarin, a toxic compound that can damage your liver if consumed in higher quantities.
While honey isn’t an ingredient in Vive Shake, we do recommend using Organic Raw honey as part of your total nutrition plan. To see how this whole-food, fiber-rich supplement can add to your wellness routine, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009. Next time, we’ll talk about a special brand of raw honey – Unique Manuka.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
