Tag: diabetes

Are You Shackled to the System?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC1 Comment

Medical $We have just celebrated the Forth of July remembering and honoring our forefathers and the courage and sacrifices they gave to make America a free nation. Today, I hopefully will entice YOU AND ALL AMERICANS to fight for your independence from the bondage of disease and illness that is at an all time high in our country.

Most of you are shackled to a system that is designed to make your sick. I know it’s very hard to believe, but you are.  If you want your Health Independence keep reading. The richest man in the world cannot buy this freedom for himself or anyone else. You must choose it and earn it.

This article may stir the pot a little but the truth is, well, the truth. I simply tell it like it is.

If you are eating the Standard American Diet, the odds are great your health is going to suffer. At some point you will become enslaved to the system — yes the processed food, medical and drug system. It is designed to take your money and keep you dependent on the system.

Without wellness (a state of optimal health) what freedom does your body give you to enjoy the privilege of being an American? Can you hike for 4 miles? Could you walk to the top of the Empire State building? Could you play and walk 18 holes of golf? How about ride a bicycle for 20 miles? Or the most joyous of all, play baseball, soccer or basketball with your children or grandchildren without feeling like you are going to die? To me this is freedom. If you can’t, you are a spectator sitting on the sidelines watching because most likely you are shackled to the couch or chair by your diet and lifestyle. You are in the system!

I am not writing this article to take a shot at those who work in the medical field. I have many friends who are nurses, doctors, dietitians, physical therapists and other clinicians who really care about your health.  I respect their field of work and respect them. This is totally about America’s system. Many have left their fields to pursue their crafts in the traditional way, which is the natural way, and I applaud them for the courage to take a stand on their beliefs.

In 2006 I began a quest for independence from morbid obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, urticaria, rosacea, fatigue and lymphedema. I was like most Americans — addicted to America’s engineered foods, which enslaved me to the system. I was given prescriptions and told to come back in the next three months for more tests and prescriptions. This had been going on for years and it wasn’t anything new because all of my friends and family were in the same system. It’s what every American expects, right, as we get older we expect our quality of life to suffer and we will need medications for almost everything. At some point we will become invalids and need to occupy a nursing home or an assisted living facility. If we are very fortunate we will have the luxury of casting the burden on our children to take care of us. It’s the American way and that’s exactly what the system wants you to believe. They are banking on it! America’s system is the only one I know of that makes more money as you get sicker. There is no financial incentive for the system to make you healthier. I was never told I could opt out the system and how.

How did it get this way?

Designed Addiction
Designed Addiction

Our government subsidizes processed and refined (engineered foods) unhealthy foods making them very cheap for Americans to buy. Our government provides little to no subsidies for healthy foods. These engineered foods are designed to be addicting and unhealthy. Shocking isn’t it? Food companies actually hire neuroscientists who use test subjects to see which blend of food chemicals will cause an addictive like response in your brain. It’s called the bliss point. If you check the ingredient list for some of these foods and compare them to the same foods by the same manufacturers in other countries like the UK, the ingredient list is much different. How is it different? The UK ingredient list doesn’t have 99% of the toxic and unhealthy ingredients in the food you buy in America.  Which means, if they can make the same food in the UK without the toxic ingredients, then they could, if they chose to, make it much healthier for Americans. The questions is, why are they doing that to us? It’s the system my American friends.

These engineered foods are nutrient bankrupt contain toxic, illness promoting ingredients. Since our bodies need nutrition to function and heal, over time, we begin to feel the effects of slowly loosing our health. You visit your doctor and he say’s “great news we have a medication that will help you manage that condition.” Pay attention – the doctor isn’t referring to reversing the condition or eliminating the problem – he is focusing on diminishing the SYMPTOMS. As time goes by you develop more conditions and need more medications. In a few years, you develop more serious health conditions. Now you need even more medications, periodic scans and tests. The really sad shocker is that some of the bad side effects of the earlier medications may have caused the new illnesses to develop.

Healthy food may have been cheap but now you are stuck in the system paying for medical bills, medications and health insurance.  In reality, the cheap food is super expensive. It just doesn’t have a warning posted saying “eat now and pay the real cost later.”

OPT OUT of the System

You have the opportunity to opt out of this system. Yes, you can really! The great news is you don’t need to be shackled by the system any longer.

How do you opt out? It’s a very complicated situation but the solution is very simple! . Stop buying the engineered foods full of chemicals and start buying the natural foods made by Mother Nature and get physically active. The more nutrition you feed your body and the fewer toxic chemicals you eat, the healthier your body will become.  I am living proof, as are millions of other Americans who have earned and won their health independence back.

America’s Standard Diet is the unhealthiest diet on our planet and is a major cause of disease and illness in our great nation. It has enslaved more than 70% of America’s population through illness and disease forcing you to spend your hard earned money on unnecessary drugs and medical visits. It also takes a large portion of your tax dollars to pay for the medical care of the underprivileged because they are also poor nutritionally.

Please start planning on your exit from the system. Sadly, the system won’t miss you because new babies are being born everyday that are already in the system.

I am very happy to see some media outlets also telling the real story about your food choices and your health. Read this article from CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/health/western-diet-health/index.html

Please join me in this wellness revolution and have real food for your next meal and move more. If you do, and continue choosing real foods, you will be free of the system in no time!

I wish you the very best in health and wellness,

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is 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.

 

Bliss point

 

Seeds of Health for Us Nuts!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment

nuts and seedsI really do like nuts and seeds. I eat a variety of them every day. They are satisfying, taste great, provide texture to other foods, are a great source of heart healthy fats, protein, fiber, B Vitamins, Vitamin E, many minerals and many antioxidants. What is there to not like about nuts and seeds? I often add them to my smoothies at the end and just blend them a little. I like having the crunchy texture this adds.

A study of more than 34,000 Seventh-Day Adventists, showed that those who consumed nuts at least five times a week had half the rate of heart attack as those who had seldom ate nuts, and those who ate nuts only once a week still had a 25 percent lower risk of heart disease than those that ate few nuts and seeds.  Similarly, the Nurses’ Health Study, involving over 86,000 women, reported a lower rate of heart disease among frequent nut eaters.

Most nuts and seeds contain more than 60% monounsaturated fats which are they same fats found in olive oil. Monounsaturated fats are heart healthy. Some nuts and seeds are also great providers of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s from nuts and seeds are our focus today.

Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and are protective of our joints, blood vessels and brain. However the American diet is full of unhealthy inflammatory fats.  Most of these come from processed foods that are rich in omega 6 fatty acids and hydrogenated fats (also know as trans fats). One of natures answer to this problem are nuts and seeds. We need to include in our daily diet the nuts and seeds providing the highest levels of omega 3 fatty acids.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18751910

This link provides a list of 61 health benefits from omega 3 fatty acids!

Lets get one nut out of the way that really is not a nut at all; and that is the most famous peanut. Peanuts along with other nuts and seeds were included in the studies mention above. The peanut is actually a legume which includes, beans, peas and lintels. Like nuts and seeds peanuts have many health benefits and are rich in heart healthy monounsaturated oils, B Vitamins, Vitamin E, resveratrol, and many minerals. However, be careful when buying peanut butter or peanuts.  The commercial processing of peanut butter can taint them with molds and other unhealthy ingredients. Many peanut butters have added sugars and other ingredients that make it less healthy. Most peanuts are roasted and salted and may also contain MSG. Just be careful when buying any nut, seed or peanuts. Choose organic if possible.

I suggest you consume all nuts and seeds raw. Some people are sensitive to the phytic acid and enzyme coating that protects raw nuts and seeds from being digested. If you have problems digesting raw nuts (you get bloating, cramping, gas) then you should soak them overnight and then rinse them well. This will remove the phytic acid coating.  Instructions for soaking are at the end of this article. The one downside to soaking is that they will not retain as much of their natural crunchiness. They are going to be a little softer than they would raw but still very healthy!

Seeds tend to have less calories per ounce than nuts because of less fat content but they can contain more protein than found in some nuts.

This is my go to list of nuts and seeds for highest health and Omega 3 intake.

  • Ground flax seeds (very high in omega 3’s and rich in many nutrients and soluble fiber)
  • Sacha Inchi seeds (very high in omega 3’s and protein)
  • Chia seeds (very high in omega 3’s loaded with many nutrients)
  • Black seeds  (has over 1600 healing compounds, may help with many adverse health conditions)
  • Pumpkin seeds (great source of zinc and magnesium which helps us relax and many other nutrients, is great for men’s health)
  • Walnuts (good source of omega 3’s, has the ability to reduce c-reactive protein making it very heart protective) http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/news/20101006/walnuts-reduce-stress
  • Pecans (pecans have the highest antioxidant power of all nuts and rich in many nutrients)
  • Cashews  (helps improve our mood from its magnesium and tryptophan content)
  • Almonds   (protects our brain from dementia and help with neuron activity)

Nuts and seeds may potentially improve;

  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Arthritis
  • Digestive disorders
  • Heart disease
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Alzheimer’s and dementia
  • Osteoporosis

This is a great chart you can refer to comparing nutrition facts with foods traditionally known for their Omega 3 content including seeds, nuts and fish. As you can see these seeds tend to be higher in Omega 3’s than nuts.

Seeds Nuts Fish
1 ounce of… Sacha Inchi Chia Flax Hemp Almonds Walnuts Pecans Salmon Herring Mackerel
Calories 190 137 150 160 161 173 193 40 45 57
Fat (g) 15 9 12 13 14 17 20 2 3 4
Protein (g) 8 4 5 10 6 7 3 6 5 5
Omega 3 (mg) 7000 4915 6388 2400 2 2542 276 565 488 748

 

Nuts are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fat; while seeds are rich in protein, vitamin B, minerals, fat and dietary fibers.

If you want to maximize the nutrients you get from nuts, soak them in distilled or purified water overnight. This helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid both of which may affect digestion and absorption of the nutrients in seeds and nuts. It can also help reduce the amount of pesticides on them if they are not organically grown.

Simple Soaking Directions: Place 4 cups of nuts in a bowl with enough distilled water to cover the nuts completely.  Add a tablespoon of Himalayan sea salt.  The salt helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors. Soaking times can vary so the easiest rule of thumb to remember is to let them soak 7 hours (overnight).  You many or may not like the taste of soggy nuts, so you’ll need to let them dry naturally or dehydrate them in a dehydrator.  And because this is essentially a 24 hour process it makes sense to do several big batches at a time. Afterward compare the flavor of the soaked and dried nuts versus the non-soaked nuts. You might be surprised to find you like them better, depending on the nut and your taste.

One exception: Cashews should soak 6 hours or less and need to dry out quickly at 200-250 degrees or they can get funky.

Go Nuts for health!

Healthy Wishes!

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is 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.

Breaking the Diet Syndrome!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment
Stop Dieting
Stop Dieting 

It’s amazing how fast the New Year approaches each year and each year a little faster as we age. With the coming of the New Year, at least 70% of Americans are thinking about their New Years Resolutions, one of which will be to lose weight or get in better shape. This is the typical mindset that the diet industry depends on for its yearly financial windfall!

Nothing about obesity has improved in the past 3 decades. America is still the fattest and sickest of all modern industrialized nations. It’s getting worse. According to the CDC, obesity has increased by 13% since 2010.

Even with all of the awareness and education being provided. Stop! Oops, my mistake, very little education about the cause of obesity and how to reverse it is happening from the mainstream medical community! There are plenty of people talking about the epidemic of obesity and it’s related diseases and illness such as heart disease and diabetes. However, few are providing education that will make a long-term difference.

Please don’t misunderstand; there are a number of great Doctors dedicating their time to educating the public. Most of them do not get the support of the traditional medical community in their efforts.  They put themselves at risk to teach you how to be healthy without the need for drugs! Thank you Dr. Hyman, Dr. Fuhrman, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Greger and Dr. Katz and many others for your dedication to educating the public about living healthy lifestyles.

According to the CDC an Increase of 13% in Obesity since 2010.
According to the CDC an Increase of 13% in Obesity since 2010.

There are a gazillion diets and diet programs on the Internet hoping to snare you for hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars. Some of these programs are very expensive. Sadly, most of them teach you little about keeping the weight off or how to prevent weight gain in the first place. They count on you becoming a repeat customer.

To prevent and reverse obesity takes knowledge not a diet.

It’s seems around the beginning of March something happens. The wellness warrior becomes the wellness whiner.  I notice that the gym has fewer people, my classes get thinner and clients and friends begin to avoid me because they don’t want me to know they are off of the new plan.  I am glad they feel a sense of accountability to someone.

This year make part of your New Years Resolution resolve “ I am sticking to the goals I have set”.  Really, doesn’t this make sense? Why put all of this effort into your goals for two or three months and then give up.

I am going to tell you how to keep your weight loss goal going forever. I want you to have what I have. I want you to lose all the extra weight you have gained and keep it off forever.

Most goals are never reached because the goal is not important enough, the goal is unrealistic and there was not enough planning.

1)  Set your date to begin your change. Get rid of bad foods in your house. Buy healthy foods for meals and snacks.

2)  Tell your friends and family what you are doing. This sets up a level of accountability for you. Ask your friends to urge you or even join you in this new lifestyle.

3)  Be realistic about your diet and weight loss goals. Set goals for weight loss in 10 pound increments. The first goals is 10 pounds, the second is 10 pounds. Do you get it? This makes the goal very achievable and builds confidence.

4) Lean to read food labels and the ingredient list on foods you buy. Be very particular about what you put in your body.  Healthy foods have very few ingredients. Avoid foods with added sugars, hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and food colorings.

5) You must understand your energy requirements. If you eat to many calories or under consume your calories you will not lose weight.  Try to eat 500 to 1000 calories less than you actually need. However never eat less than 1200 calories per day. Eating less than 1200 calories per day on a consistent basis will lower your metabolic engine greatly resulting in weight gain. I highly recommend using an online food journal system. They help you monitor your calorie, sugar, carbohydrate, fat and protein intake every day. People that keep food journals keep the weight off. I recommend these online food journal systems, www.myfitnesspal.com  Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. www.nutritiondata.com.  There are many others that are also very easy to use.

6)  Understand that to lose weight you must exercise.  If you have not exercised in a long time start slowly and consult with your doctor. If you can only walk for 10 minutes, then walk for 10 minutes and work your way up to at least 1 hour.  You can even break up the walking and exercising into 20 or 30-minute sections and do them multiple times per day. This actually keeps your metabolism burning fat at a higher rate for more hours in the day.  This translates to faster weight loss.

7)  Never deprive yourself of any food. If you must have that brownie eat just 1 and be happy. The next time you eat, it should be healthy. If you eat healthy 80% of the time it will allow you to indulge or splurge 20% of the time. This will keep you happy and help you lose weight by not binging.

8)  Never beat yourself up for having an unscheduled indulgence. Look at it as a treat because you have done so well. The next time you eat make healthy choices. Turn a cheat into a treat!

8)  Eat a lot of plant foods like vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts and seeds. Make your plate at least 80% plant based! Most plant foods are very low in calories and very high in nutrient content. They also have a lot of fiber, which is satiating and filling. However limit your fruits to 2 servings per day. They have a lot of sugar in the form of fructose that can interfere with your weight loss. Avoid refined and processed foods. They are full of unhealthy ingredients, low in nutrition and very high in calories.

9)  Avoid grains or Limit your grains to whole grains and then even limit those to no more than 2 to 4 servings per day. Grains cause cravings and can raise blood sugar levels. The best are wild rice, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, and oats. The grains you see today are not like the grains from 100 or more years ago. They have been hybridized to a highly inflammatory species of plants. Check out Dr. David Perlmutter’s book “Brain Grain”.

10) Make sure you drink plenty of water. Water is necessary to breakdown fat and create cellular energy. The general rule is to consume ½ your weight in fluid ounces of water per day.  If you weigh 150 pounds you would need 75 ounces of fluid per day. If you exercise, are ill or sweat a lot you may need more fluid.

There are two items I use everyday that make this easy for me. First is a product called Vive (rhymes with liv) it is a whole food drink mix that I use twice per day. It is the best tasting shake mix out there and is highly nutritious. The next is my NutriBullet blender. It is engineered to make the nutrients easier to absorb from the blended foods. It makes great smoothies when using the Vive shake mix.

If you want to have great success and do not want weight loss to be on next years list, start planning now. Get excited about the new body you are going to have, the new health you are going to enjoy, the new clothes you get to buy!

It’s simple; plan, execute, do it, lose it, and keep it off by continuing to live a lifestyle of wellness and health.

Healthy Wishes for a new year!

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Viveshake

The contents of this blog is not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is 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.

 

 

 

Love Yourself To Health

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment
The Power of Opportunity
The Power of Opportunity

You deserve a healthy body! But, do you love yourself enough to have one? Hmm, great question isn’t it?

I was fat, super obese, morbidly obese.  Whatever term you want to use, it doesn’t change the fact that at 450+ pounds I was a big man and sick.

In 2006 God presented an opportunity and I grabbed it like a starving frog grabs a bug. I was sick and tired of being sick. I was tired of watching life instead of participating in life. I hated being on the sidelines, I wanted to live they way we are suppose to live, being activity and happy. I had neither. It hurt deeply to watch my grand kids playing and I couldn’t play with them.

It’s always during this season that I always reflect on the past year. It’s a special time of year for me. The journey of my lifetime began during the fall of 2006 and to say I am grateful is powerfully understated. I am forever blessed because I was desperate for change and not afraid of to try when the opportunity presented itself.

Life is truly a blessing, or a curse. I guess it depends on your perspective. I decided to change mine from a curse to a blessing. Regardless of your age or condition in most cases, you can improve your health and fitness. Just a little or extremely, the choice is yours.

In November of 2006 I began a wellness journey even though I had no clue what I was doing at the time.  I was 450+ pounds, diabetic, had high blood pressure, severe arthritis in my knees and ankles, sleep apnea, hives, rosacea and ocular rosacea. I hadn’t planned the journey; it was a blessing that came about while trying to help my wife overcome her debilitating fibromyalgia. This life event pushed me in the direction of nutrition. I am so blessed that it did.

Just so you understand my condition at the time, I couldn’t walk more than 200 feet without severe pain. Additionally, walking more than 5 to 10 minutes caused shortness of breath. My ability to exercise was severely restricted.  Most people in this condition don’t see a way to exercise because of the physical limitations of their obesity or affliction. It’s certainly understandable. I didn’t believe it was possible but I wanted my life back more than you can imagine. I hated watching my grandchildren playing while I watched. I wanted to be in the game with them.

The Change

Of all times to decide to try a new diet or lose weight the Thanksgiving and Christmas season wouldn’t be logical. But this wasn’t a diet it was a life change. An opportunity presented itself and I was not going to wait. I was jumping on the opportunity train! Dieting had gotten me too this point in my health and I wasn’t going back down that road.

My diet at this time was the same typical nutrient bankrupt American diet. However, I started adding nutritional supplements to my daily routine. Within a week my mood was better, my energy picked up and my blood sugar readings were improving. By week 2 my appetite was decreasing and my taste began to change. I am not sure how to explain this but my desire for unhealthy foods just went away. My wife actually brought it to my attention that I wasn’t having my normal honey buns, ice cream or candy bars as snacks or after dinner. Something in my body was changing.

By week 3 my energy level increased so much I decided to try to go for a walk. I was hopeful that my legs would bear the load and support me in my journey! My first walk was 200 feet. My knees hurt and felt very unstable but my gut told me I had to do it if I wanted any chance to improve my health. I had to just work through the pain. When I got back to my office I made a commitment that was a crucial part of my journey.  I committed to walking everyday and making each walk a little longer. I was amazed that my body responded to the challenge by getting healthier. The improvement was evident because my blood sugar levels continued to improve, I started to lose weight, I was able to walk longer each time and my energy continued to increase. In 2 weeks I was walking a mile without stopping.

By the end of 1 month my blood sugar levels were normal and I was walking multiple times per day. My blood pressure started coming down and the weight was really starting to come off. My taste were shifting even more. Without even really thinking about it our meals were changing. We started cutting out the fried foods and went to baked or grilled foods. We started adding a lot of vegetables with a few fruits and beans to our diet and cut out the breads and unhealthy desserts.

By the end of 6 months I was walking up to 8 miles a day and every aspect of my health was improving.  It took me 2 and 1/2 years to lose 220 pounds and it was a journey I still walk everyday.  In fact, I have no health issues at all as I am sharing this with you.

For the past 3.5  years my main exercise of choice is bicycling. I absolutely love cycling. Cycling is fun and a great way to get exercise. Regardless what type of bicycling you choose such as cruising around the park or town, cycling on a trail or a riding a road bike, its fun exercise.

I want to show you what I have been able to accomplish physically over the past year. Please do not think I am bragging, far from it. I want to show you how far you can take your health if you really want it.  In 2006 I had trouble walking and had multiple health problems.  In 2015 I think we can easily say my health and fitness has soared to new heights.

The secret to my health is eating real food without toxic additives, moving more everyday, managing the stress in my life, learning to love myself by giving love and kindness to those around me and supplementing my diet with a super product I developed called Vive!  It’s that simple.

My bicycling accomplishments for the past year

The New Wally After a 100 Mile Ride
The New Wally After a 100 Mile Ride
  • 6,012 miles bicycling during the last year
  • 266,987 calories burned
  • 308 days of cycling

You will never change your life if you don’t change something you are doing. Please get off the couch and out of the fast food restaurants and build the kind of body you want! It starts with your next thought, bite and next step.

Regardless of your age or condition, your health can always be worse or it can be better. You have control over what you eat and how much you move. Even if you are limited in your mobility, there are ways to exercise.

I hope this motivates you to decide to get healthier this coming year. Anything is possible but it takes making changes in your life. You have to want it and I hope you do.

Healthy wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

@WallyBishopCNC

The contents of the email or written communication are not medical advice and should not be considered as such!  This blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your physician or health care provider if you have medical issues and before changing your diet or lifestyle or taking herbal or dietary supplements. Never start an exercise program with getting your doctors approval. Never quit taking medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.  Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs.

 

Raw Honey, Natures Unique Healing Food!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment

honeyWould you have every thought something so simple from nature could be so powerful, 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 everyday!

Honey is an amazing substance. It’s use a food goes as far back as 8,500 years ago in murals found in Spain and as medicine as far back as 5,000 years ago in Greece, India and China.

Literally, a gift from the honeybee! The honeybee makes honey as food for its baby bees (larvae) and for food for the hive when nectar is in short supply during the winter. Honey is mostly sugar comprised of fructose and sucrose, smaller amounts of other sugars and other nutrients in a water base.

The honeybee transforms nectar into honey through regurgitation of an enzymatic substance into honeycombs and then, through evaporation of enough water, you have honey. Yes, that is how bee’s 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 provide the health benefits that real raw honey does.

The reviews on raw honey for diabetes is mixed, however if consumed in small amounts the studies are positive and show it can lower fasting blood sugar levels. However, some studies show no increase in fasting blood sugar reading but an overall increase in A1c levels (a measure of blood sugar levels over three months).

Research studies tell us many positive things about honey. Let’s look at a few.

1) Honey has antioxidant properties that reduce inflammation through out our body.

2) Honey is heart protective and can help prevent cardiovascular disease.

3) Honey has very powerful immune boosting and heart protecting enzymes and antioxidants.

4) Honey has antibiotic properties. It cured a case of MRSA when powerful antibiotics couldn’t. I personally witnessed this event. Doctors a century ago used honey as a surgical dressing because it is very antibiotic.

5) Honey can keep skin supple and can help reduce scaring because it keeps skin hydrated.

6) Honey is great for digestive support because it acts as prebiotic and kills bad bacteria. Studies show honey can help heal ulcers.

7) Honey is very effective for a sour throat when mixed with lemon juice and sipped on as a warm tea.

8) Studies show honey lowers blood LDL (bad kind) cholesterol levels, raises blood HDL (good kind) levels and lowers blood triglyceride levels.

9) Honey is a great source of energy for athletes and helps athletes recover from vigorous exercise. It is a superior energy source and it’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are muscle and cardio protective.

10) 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 store is a variety called cassia cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon has coumarin, a toxic compound that can damage your liver if consumed in higher quantities.

11) Honey is an excellent sugar replacement for diabetics. Some studies show raw honey can lower fasting blood sugar levels, while other studies show it also raises A1c levels and lowers fasting blood sugar levels. This may sound confusing. If you are diabetic I would recommend using raw honey in place of any other sugars. Because honey is much sweeter than sugar it takes much less for the same sweetness effect.

A Special Honey

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 trees pollen. The call it the 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.

These are the UMF ratings specifying its 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 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.

Do not eat honey made from pollen of the rhododendron flower. It can possibly make you sick. http://www.honeybeesuite.com/a-rare-case-of-honey-intoxication-in-seattle/

Summary

Honey has very powerful healing properties, 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 everyday. It will keep you buzzzzzzing, your taste buds and your body will love you for it!

Healthy wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

viveshake

wellnesswithwally

@WallyBishopCNC

The contents of the email or written communication are not medical advice and should not be considered as such!  This blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your physician or health care provider if you have medical issues and before changing your diet or lifestyle or taking herbal or dietary supplements. Never start an exercise program with getting your doctors approval. Never quit taking medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.  Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs.

References:

Comparative gastroprotective effects of natural honey, Nigella sativa and cimetidine against acetylsalicylic acid induced gastric ulcer. Bukhari MH1, Khalil J, Qamar S, Qamar Z, Zahid M, Ansari N, Bakhshi IM. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Antiulcer Potential of Manuka Honey against Gastric Ulcer in Rats. Almasaudi SB1, El-Shitany NA2, Abbas AT3, Abdel-dayem UA4, Ali SS5, Al Jaouni SK6, Harakeh S7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26770649

Honey with high levels of antioxidants can provide protection to healthy human subjects. Schramm DD1, Karim M, Schrader HR, Holt RR, Cardetti M, Keen CL. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12617614

The Potential Role of Honey and its Polyphenols in Preventing Heart Diseases: A Review M I Khalil and S A Sulaiman http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3005390/

Cardioactive and vasoactive effects of natural wild honey against cardiac malperformance induced by hyperadrenergic activity. Rakha MK1, Nabil ZI, Hussein AA. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18361743

 Antibacterial Efficacy of Raw and Processed Honey P. Mohapatra, V. Thakur, and S. K. Brar  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3042689/

Natural honey lowers plasma glucose, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and blood lipids in healthy, diabetic, and hyperlipidemic subjects: comparison with dextrose and sucrose.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15117561

Effects of natural honey consumption in diabetic patients: an 8-week randomized clinical trial.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19817641

Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583289/

Manuka honey inhibits cell division in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Jenkins R, Burton N, Cooper R. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21903658

 

I Ignored the Elephant in the Room, Please Don’t!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment
This Doesn't Have to Happen But Can If You Ignore It!
This Doesn’t Have to Happen But Can If You Ignore It!

This article doesn’t apply to every over weight person.  But it might be just for you.

When I was at my heaviest weight, 450+ pounds I knew I was fat, that was obvious but I kept telling myself I am not really that big, I carry my weight well.  No one has said anything to me about my weight other than my doctor occasionally suggesting gastric bypass surgery but no other remedies. My friends still like me! Sure my knees and ankles hurt and I have trouble finding chairs to sit in but that was normal for me. Going from overweight to obese to super obese was normal for me as much as I hated it.  Over time the weight increased slowly without me noticing what was really happening, or was I just ignoring the elephant in the room. I guess I just learned to adjust my life around it instead of confronting it.

And them boom! My doctor hit me with the “D” word one day! I was now diabetic. I can’t tell you what a shock that was to me. I really thought I can stay this large and live to 90. The reality in my world was fantasy not fact or anywhere close to real. In fairness he did tell me at some point I would become diabetic but I chose to not believe him. Why should I? He hasn’t seemed concerned about my weight and other than high blood pressure and arthritis I wasn’t dying. I had ignored the elephant in the room for years. Now the elephant was looking me straight in the face and was demanding my attention.  OK, I thought, so what I have diabetes, millions do. (more denial) He prescribed the medication told me how to take it. I had the prescription filled and went home with the intentions of taking the medication………until I read the side effects! Wow, that woke me up from a deep obese hibernation.  The last symptom and most compelling of phrases hit me. It said so innocently “MAY CAUSE DEATH”! How is death a symptom? Death is finality, the end, the exit of breathing and smiling and laughing and life! The elephant in the room was raising his trunk and sounding a loud roar of warning. If the pills didn’t kill me my current condition would. I kept ignoring him for years and now I had to deal with him.

Any time we talk about weight challenges it can be difficult because we as overweight people can be easily embarrassed. It’s very personal. There is a stigma attached to our situation. However, let’s face it, no one grows up aspiring to be overweight or obese.  I certainly never intended to be this heavy and kept trying to pretend it didn’t matter if I was so heavy. But to my health and quality of life and those that loved and cared about me it did matter.

Stop ignoring the elephant in the room. He will eventually get your attention if you don’t. Acknowledge his presence then do something to get him out of the room.

Begin by taking a good long look at yourself in a full length mirror while absolutely butt naked (southern term). Take it all in and say today this is me. Accept this is you, today. If you need to cry, shout, fuss and get on your pity pot for about 10 minutes. Then get pissed off and angry that you allowed this to happen. No one else did it to you, you did it through choices you made.

Now, what isn’t your fault is a lack of healthy dietary and lifestyle knowledge. I had no clue how to eat healthy or live healthy. I was depending on my doctors to give me the knowledge to prevent or fix my situation. They didn’t have it.  If something isn’t working it’s our responsibility to seek out the knowledge to fix it or improve it.

How to get ride of the elephant!

  • Acknowledge him
  • Educate your self about healthy foods and food to avoid.  This blog is a great place to get this knowledge!
  • Fill your days with an abundance of highly nutritious foods, herbs and spices!
  • Stay active everyday by exercising and enjoying physical activities like walking, swimming and cycling.

My elephant was over 200 pounds of fat, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, etc.. and today he is gone!

Your NutriBullet, your juicer, your healthy diet and your legs are your ticket to a healthy body, mind and spirit.

Eat healthy, keep moving, make people laugh, be of service when possible, be grateful for everything and your elephant will become a picture of health!

I have gone from fat to fit and you can to!!

I conquered Paris Mountain!
I conquered Paris Mountain!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

@WallyBishopCNC

The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is 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. Before exercising get your doctors approval.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blasting Your Way to Optimal Health!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment
Liquid Health Bomb!!
Liquid Health Bomb!!

A Blast is just another way of saying smoothies!

Smoothie makers like the NutriBullet, Vita Mix and Ninja are one of our best weapons against disease and illness.  If you don’t have one, you need one, they are the ultimate smoothie makers! Not trying to start a smoothie brand war, this is just my opinion. I actually have other brands that very good smoothie blenders as well. The point is to use one of these great appliances to improve your health. It can’t help your health sitting idle on your counter.

How can smoothies or blasts improve your health you ask?

Typically we use lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds and herbs and spices in smoothies. These foods contain an abundance of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and other phytonutrients like plant sterols. These nutrients are the building blocks of a healthy body.   Also, health is a mindset. When you buy an appliance like these smoothie makers you have health in mind. You want better health. You visualize overcoming your health issues by blasting with these great appliances. They increases nutrient absorption. More nutrient absorption equals better health potential. However, smoothie makers can’t help you if you do not use them.

When you use your smoothie maker, use wholesome, nutrient abundant foods from the Farmacey (garden) that provide live giving sustenance! As you blast everyday with real foods using every color under the rainbow you are feeding every cell in your body exactly what it needs to detox, repair, replenish, build and reverse any adverse condition inside that cell.  Studies show that certain compounds in plant foods can actually stimulate our DNA to repair itself!! Wow! how awesome is that? Additionally, antioxidants and other phytonutrients help prevent illnesses and disease by protecting our cells and ultimately our bodies greatly reducing our risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, stroke and many other adverse health conditions. Your health begins and ends at the cellular level.

So how do we know what foods are the healthiest for us?

Fortunately for us, there are two major food nutrient rating systems, developed by leading experts in the Nutrition field; the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System and the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI).  Both provide a good look at what foods are the best and worst for us using a numerical matrix. Which one is the best? That’s for you to decide. However, the NuVal system seems to give scores that seem too high for some not so healthy foods. For example, the NuVal system gives iceberg lettuce a score of 94 out off a top score off 100 where the ANDI system gives iceberg lettuce a score of 127 out of 1000. This seems to be more realistic. Neither system is perfect however.

Both the ANDI and NuVal systems rate both whole and processed foods, but NuVal rates many more processed options and was developed by a team led by David Katz, MD, MPH. The ANDI system provides scores from 1 to 1000 and the NuVal system gives score of 1 to 100.

Dr. Joel Furman developed the ANDI (Aggregate Nutrient Density Index) food rating system. It looks at the complete spectrum of nutrients, antioxidants and phytonutrients in a specific food and rates it on a scale of 1 to 1000. The broader the spectrum of nutrients and the higher the content the higher the ANDI score. Some foods may seem low on the list to you like some fruits, nuts and seeds or beans because they may be rich in a few nutrients but not a broad range.  It doesn’t mean don’t eat the. It just means foods with higher score have a broader range of health providing nutrients, antioxidants and additional phytonutrients.

The ANDI System

Sample Nutrient/Calorie Density Scores
Kale 1000 Sunflower Seeds 64
Collard Greens 1000 Kidney Beans 64
Mustard Greens 1000 Green Peas 63
Watercress 1000 Cherries 55
Swiss Chard 895 Pineapple 54
Bok Choy 865 Apple 53
Spinach 707 Mango 53
Arugula 604 Peanut Butter 51
Romaine 510 Corn 45
Brussels Sprouts 490 Pistachio Nuts 37
Carrots 458 Oatmeal 36
Broccoli Rabe 455 Shrimp 36
Cabbage 434 Salmon 34
Broccoli 340 Eggs 31
Cauliflower 315 Milk, 1% 31
Bell Peppers 265 Walnuts 30
Asparagus 205 Bananas 30
Mushrooms 238 Whole Wheat Bread 30
Tomato 186 Almonds 28
Strawberries 182 Avocado 28
Sweet Potato 181 Brown Rice 28
Zucchini 164 White Potato 28
Artichoke 145 Low Fat Plain Yogurt 28
Blueberries 132 Cashews 27
Iceburg Lettuce 127 Chicken Breast 24
Grapes 119 Ground Beef, 85% lean 21
Pomegranates 119 Feta Cheese 20
Cantaloupe 118 White Bread 17
Onions 109 White Pasta 16
Flax Seeds 103 French Fries 12
Orange 98 Cheddar Cheese 11
Edamame 98 Apple Juice 11
Cucumber 87 Olive Oil 10
Tofu 82 Vanilla Ice Cream 9
Sesame Seeds 74 Corn Chips 7
Lentils 72 Cola 1
Peaches 65

You can find more information about this food rating system at http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/andi-food-scores.aspx

 

Below is a sampling of NuVal Scores.

Fresh Bread and Rolls                                Score
Alvarado Sprouted Whole Wheat Bread               29
Arnold Natural Flax and Fiber Bread                    48
Arnold Italian Crustini Rolls                                13
Healthy Choice Hearty 7-Grain Bread                  34
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Bread                   36
Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread                             27
Wonder Cinnamon Raisin Bread                          11
Wonder Classic White Sandwich Bread                28

 

Cold Cereal                                                                          Score
Cap’n Crunch Sweetened Corn & Oat Cereal                                   4
General Mills Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal                  37
Hodgson Mill Unprocessed Wheat Bran (Millers Bran)                   100
Kashi 7 Whole Grain Flakes Cereal                                               29
Kashi Strawberry Fields Cereal                                                      6
Post Spoon Size Shredded Wheat Cereal                                      91
Post Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal with Almonds                         29
Post Frosted Shredded Wheat                                                     32
Quaker Life Cereal                                                                     25

 

Fresh Vegetables         Score
Avocados                              88
Broccoli                              100
Lettuce – Iceberg                   94
Sweet Potato                       100
Tomatoes                            100

 

Frozen Vegetables                                                   Score
Birds Eye Cooked Winter Squash                                    100
Birds Eye Deluxe Frozen Artichoke Hearts                       100
Green Giant Cut Green Beans Steamable                         100
Green Giant Chopped Spinach                                          88
Birds Eye Sweet Corn & Butter Sauce                               23
Green Giant Cauliflower & Cheese Sauce                           25
Green Giant Creamed Spinach with Artificial Cream Flavor  24
Green Giant Green Bean Casserole                                   15

 

Canned Vegetables                                                Score
Allens Popeye Regular Spinach                                        87
Aunt Nellie’s Ruby Red Sweet & Sour Harvard Beets           8
Del Monte Fresh Cut Regular Spinach                              87
Del Monte Fresh Cut Whole Green Beans (with salt)          84
Del Monte Fresh French Green Beans No Salt Added        100
Libby’s Sauerkraut with Caraway Seeds                           13
Ready to Serve Artichoke Hearts                                     26
Vlasic Old Fashioned Sauerkraut                                       4

 

Fruits           Score
Bananas           100
Blueberries       100
Coconuts            24
Grapefruit         100
Mango              100
Passion Fruit       88
Pineapple          100

 

Cookies                                                                            Score
Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies                                       11
Kashi TLC Oatmeal Raisin Flax Cookies                                      33
Nabisco Chips Ahoy Chewy Real Chocolate Chip Cookies              2
Nabisco Mini Teddy Graham Snacks                                          28
Nabisco Nilla Wafers                                                                  6
Salerno Butter Flavored Cookies                                                 2
Nabisco Honey Maid Low Fat Grahams                                       24

 

Crackers                                                                                                       Score
Annies Home Grown Bite Size Whole Wheat Bunnies Baked Snack Crackers              24
Austin Toasty Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter                                                  24
Kashi TLC Mediterranean Bruschetta Snack Cracker                                                30
Keebler Townhouse Bistro Multi Grain Crackers                                                        3
Kellogg’s All-Bran Garlic Herb Crackers                                                                   35
Nabisco Ritz Bitz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches                                                 9
Pepperidge Farm Cheddar Flavor Goldfish                                                              20
Ryvita Sesame Rye Crispbread                                                                              40
Sunshine Cheez-it Reduced Fat Baked Snack Crackers                                             23

 

Salty Snacks                                                                              Score
Baked Lays Original Potato Crisps                                                        25
Chex Mix Brand Snack Traditional                                                          7
Crunchy Cheetos                                                                                  4
Fritos Brand Corn Chips                                                                        6
Garden of Eatin’ Blue Chips All Natural Tortilla Chips                              34
Doritos Nacho Flavored Tortilla Chips                                                     2
Lays Stax Original Potato Crisps                                                            3
Old Fashioned Kettle-Cooked Reduced Fat Cape Cod Potato Chips           25
Pringles Reduced Fat Sour Cream & Onion                                              3
Snyders of Hanover Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks                                    25
Snyders of Hanover Original Tortilla Chip                                              34
Utz Barbecue Potato Chip                                                                      4
Sunshine Cheez It Assorted Party Mix                                                   20

 

Fresh Meats                              Score
Chicken Breast (skinless)                      57
Ground Sirloin (Beef 90/10)                  46
Ham (whole leg)                                   39
Pork Baby Back Ribs                             36
Pork Tenderloin                                    65
Turkey Breast                                      56
Turkey Breast (skinless)                       73

 

Seafood                                  Score
Atlantic Salmon Fillet                       96
Bay Scallops (treated)                     43
Clams (raw, treated)                       44
Crab, Alaskan King                          62
Haddock (treated)                           74
Lobster                                          60
Sardines (fresh)                             94
Shrimp (treated)                            40

 

Milk                                    Score
Chug Milk Shake Vanilla              21
Nonfat Skim Milk                       100
2% Milk                                      84
1% Milk                                      89
Silk Chocolate Light Soymilk         46
Silk Soymilk                                88

 

Juice                                                                       Score
Lakewood Fresh Pressed Pure Pomegranate Juice              38
Odwalla Pomegranate Limeade (20% Juice)                       1

 

Oil/Shortening                     Score                
Canola Oil                                                 24
All Vegetable Shortening                              1

 

For more info about the NuVal system please visit http://www.nuval.com/scores

Health happens when we balance our lives by eating the healthiest foods and drinking the purist water as often as possible, getting outside, moving more, de-stressing and removing as much toxicity (environmental and emotional) from our lives as we can.

Healthy wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive Shake

@WallyBishopCNC

The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is 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.

Love Your Heart So It Can Love Even More!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment

Heart in handsThe lifestyle you live has the biggest impact on your heart health. Even if heart disease runs in your family you can trump those genetics by adopting a heart healthy lifestyle!

First know that cholesterol is not the enemy, your body actually makes 800 to 1500 mgs of cholesterol daily! Your hearts enemies are foods that cause systemic inflammation in your arteries forcing cholesterol to be used to patch and repair vascular sores. These foods are prevalent in the American diet.

What you are about to read should make you run in your kitchen and fire up a salad, smoothie or Vive. Did you know that a plant-based diet has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of and even reverse heart and cardiovascular disease?  You can listen to Dr. Dean Ornish and some of his patients at this link. http://www.youtube.com/user/DrDeanOrnish

Many factors can affect our heart health. Our diet (excessive simple sugars), stress, and other lifestyle factors like smoking and the amount of physical activity we get play a huge role in heart health.

In about a day your heart beats 100,000 times pumping around 2000 gallons of blood to 100 trillion cells through 60 thousand miles of blood vessels.  Every time I  think of that it amazes me!

The heart is not just an organ, it is also a muscle.  The heart requires a lot of energy and quality nutrition to keep it healthy.  Your heart is a very unique organ and unlike other organs and muscles, it does not become fatigued. It only stops when oxygen is no longer available.

Exercise increases the hearts fitness so it can deliver more oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Develop a good exercise program after approval from your doctor!

Because of the great energy requirements put on the heart, nutrition is very important.  Vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes and antioxidants are super important for heart health.

  • Plant based foods provide a bounty of nutrients and antioxidants the body needs for great heart health.
  • Studies show Nuts and seeds consumed daily reduce the risk for heart disease. They are anti-inflammatory and a good source of Vitamin E, which, is very important for cell membrane health and is also an antioxidant.
  • Omega 3’s from Salmon, sardines, ground flax seed and walnuts reduce inflammation and keep blood platelets from sticking, reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease
  • Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables reduce inflammation and protect the heart from free radical damage.  The greater the volume of oxygen is needed in a cell to make energy, the higher the potential for free radical damage.  The heart is a big air and fluid pump.  So antioxidants are even more important for the heart muscle.
  • Magnesium is very important for heart health because it helps blood vessels relax, potentially reducing blood pressure, which, if high, can damage the heart.
  • B Vitamins are critical for preparing foods for the conversion to energy.
  • B12, Folate and B6 are critical to reduce the protein homocysteine from accumulating in our tissues. Homocysteine causes cellular damage to the heart and blood vessels and heavily associated with heart disease.
  • Iron, B12, Vitamin C and Folate are important to make healthy red blood cells and blood vessels.
  • Vitamin E from food and Co-Q10 from foods are important heart protectors.

 

Some of the best foods for heart health are:

  • Nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans)
  • Avocado
  • Dark chocolate
  • Leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens)
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Bananas
  • Bell peppers
  • Hot peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Beans (pinto, garbanzo, black)
  • Lentils
  • Pomegranate
  • Blueberries
  • Goji Berries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Salmon
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Amaranth
  • Buckwheat
  • Oats
  • Quinoa
  • Wild rice

Heart Health Destroyers

Sadly the American diet is the perfect diet if you want poor heart health. It is rich in sodium, sugar and bad fats and low in nutrient rich foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds and whole grains, which promote health.

If you love your heart it would be best to avoid or limit these foods in your diet. These foods are health destroyers!

  • Foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol (meats, processed meats, eggs, cows milk and cheese)
  • Processed meats
  • Foods high in sodium
  • Foods high in sugars particularly added sugars such as (refined sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, confectioners sugar, brown sugar etc..)
  • Fried foods
  • Flour based foods (includes breading on fried foods, cookies, crackers, cereals, pastries, breads, pasta) Flour can turn to blood sugar as quickly as table sugar.
  • Excess sugar is a powerful risk factor in your diet because it creates inflammation and sores in your arteries, which forces your body to use cholesterol to repair them. This makes arteries stiffer creating more sores or tears requiring more cholesterol.  It’s a vicious cycle that accelerates heart and vascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Other Heart Health Factors

  • Stress is a killer! It creates hormonal changes that raise blood pressure, cause obesity and eventually damage your heart.
  • A lack of exercise let’s muscles atrophy, becoming weaker. Your heart and blood vessels are muscles and need exercise to be in top health.
  • A lack of sleep creates systemic stress putting additional stress on your heart.
  • Cigarettes destroy your blood vessels and lungs. Both are critical for your heart to be healthy.
  • Limit alcohol to no more than 3 drinks per week.

Summary

Having 2 smoothies a day filled with every color of vegetable and fruit, nuts and seeds is going to get you on the right track for great heart health.

  • Have Vive twice per day to make sure you are getting the heart healthy nutrients you need.You can add Vive to smoothies and make them even better!
  • Avoid added sugars; the healthiest sweeteners are stevia and raw honey.
  • Reduce your intake of animal fats
  • Make your diet mostly vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts and seeds and limited low glycemic whole grains
  • Exercise daily
  • De-stress by exercising, enjoying friends and laughing!
  • Reduce your salt intake to 1300 mgs per day to reduce blood pressure.
  • Drink plenty of clean water
  • Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep nightly

Happy healthy eating!

Wally Bishop C.N.C

Vive Developer

Sources

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/78/3/544S.long

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11832674

http://www.youtube.com/user/DrDeanOrnish

The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is 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.

_

Ginger the Mighty Healer!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment

Do You Want Health and Vitality?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment
Nutrition Makes Healthy Bodies!
Nutrition Makes Healthy Bodies!

Many of my clients typically come to me once they or a family member face a major health crisis.   It frustrates me because most of these issues could be prevented. I do not want to see that happen to you, so, let’s not wait for the health problem let’s get in front of them so we don’t need to face them later.

You have probable heard these keys to health a hundred times before but they are always worth repeating, particularly starting the New Year.

As we go through life, hopefully we hit a point at which we say, “I want better health! Most of the time it hits us hard when we have family and friends that we see fighting health issues like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Being a witness to this hopefully becomes our wake up call or rallying point. This is the first step in their new journey. It starts with a thought and then action. However, many people think it but don’t follow through. I have tried many times to understand why they won’t follow through and can only come to one conclusion. They love the food and unhealthy lifestyle more they fear disease and illness. I have had clients with stints from blockages; insulin dependent diabetes and high blood pressure say they would rather take their medication and keep living their lifestyle.  At this point we go our separate ways and I am always left confused and saddened.

After several years of counseling people about health and nutrition I remain as confused as ever by the human psyche! I just can’t fathom why someone doesn’t want better health.

If you will follow a few of these health building principles you can prevent many health issues. The more you can incorporate the better. It doesn’t guarantee a perfectly healthy life but is does mean you greatly reduce your risk of future disease and illness and a quicker recovery if you do face illness.

Don’ts and Limits

  • Avoid refined and processed foods as much as possible. They may contain preservatives, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, antibiotics, hormones and food colorings all of which are anti-nourishing.
  • Avoid all commercially raised red meat, poultry and fish.
  • Limit the intake of red meats and pork.
  • Avoid all artificial sweeteners. They cause a disruption in our neurotransmitters and nervous system and can cause major health issues.
  • Avoid all dairy from cows. It’s highly inflammatory and associated with many adverse health conditions.
  • Avoid any trans fats (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils), they cause heart disease and cancers
  • Avoid vegetable oils other than olive oil and coconut oil for cooking (others are inflammatory).
  • Avoid sugary drinks and foods that turn to blood sugar quickly. Sugar is high inflammatory and cause hormonal imbalances and lowers our immune system. Flour based foods turn to blood sugar quickly.
  • Limit grains to no more than four servings per day. They cause cravings when eaten to often. The best grains are oats, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and wild rice.
  • Avoid gluten as much as possible. Glutens are very inflammatory.
  • Stop the sedentary lifestyle, move more.

Do’s

  • Eat fresh organic produce often. This includes mushrooms!Veggies in a blender
  • Try to eat every color of the plant world everyday; red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, and white (they are healing foods)
  • Reduce simple sugar intake this includes limiting high sugar fruit intake to limit fructose intake. The best fruits are berries, green apples, peaches, pears, plums and bananas that have green tips and are bright yellow.
  • Eat more omega 3 foods (chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, herring, sardines)
  • Make nuts and seeds a part of your daily diet. They are highly nutritious and heart protective. Eat walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds etc…
  • Make beans and lentils a part of your regular diet. They are a great source of protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber and many nutrients.
  • Use spices often. They are some of the most powerful and healing foods we can eat. Some of the best are raw cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, mustard seeds, clove, ginger, garlic, oregano, thyme, cayenne, cardamom, basil, sage, coriander, cumin, turmeric, curcumin and black pepper.
  • Drink green tea’s (give Matcha tea a try) and hot chocolate made with raw cocoa. They are very rich in powerful antioxidants and nutrients.
  • If eating meats and fish make sure they are free range, organic and the fish are wild caught.
  • Drink at least 80 ounces of pure water every day. Drink even more if you sweat a lot.
  • Get adequate sunshine.
  • Get a good nights sleep!
  • De-Stress, stress is a silent killer. Try yoga, exercise, massage, positive affirmations, water aerobics, positive thinking and a healthy diet to help manage stress.
  • Exercise at least 5 days a week. Exercise doesn’t have to be hard, just consistent. Our body needs exercise to be healthy. It boost our immune system, removes toxins, helps balance hormones, improves our insulin response, helps regulate weight, gives us energy, improves mental focus, improves our balance and makes our heart and vascular system healthier.
  • Make it a point to do a random act of kindness for someone. It will greatly enrich your life.

Summary

If you avoid foods man has altered and stick to foods, as they exist in nature you can’t help but be healthier! Additionally, sunshine, sleep, water, exercise, stress management and a positive attitude can work wonders for your health. I also recommend making Vive!™ part of your daily dietary routine.. Vive!™  will nourish your body from head to toe providing optimal nutrition for optimal health.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is 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.

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