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Tuesday, March 28, 2023

The 5 Biggest Reasons to Limit Your Fructose Intake

 

There are many different forms of sugar, and most are pretty bad for you. But where does fructose rank? Here are the 5 biggest reasons to limit your fructose intake.



Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes



Death by Fructose – How Too Much Sugary Fruit Can Affect Your Health

There are many different forms of sugar, and most are pretty bad for you. But where does fructose rank?

Everyone knows that sugar is unhealthy, but there are still mixed opinions about whether a little fruit is good in moderation.

As with many things, the answer is a little more complex than a simple “good” or “bad” response.

Here’s why too much fructose can be dangerous, and which foods it might be hiding in.

Different Types of Sugar

There are three types of sugar primarily found in natural carbohydrate-based foods: glucose, fructose, and sucrose. While they are all the same as far as calories go, they differ in how the body uses them for energy and how they affect our health.

Glucose is the body’s preferred form of sugar because it can most easily convert it and use it for energy. It’s also the least sweet form of simple sugars.

Fructose is found naturally in most fruits, as well as in honey, agave, certain vegetables, sugar cane, corn, and sugar beets.

Fructose extracted from sugar cane and corn is converted into the type of fructose that is added to foods and sometimes processed into high-fructose syrup. Fructose has the sweetest taste, but in a strict comparison, has a less spiking effect on the blood sugar.

Sucrose is half glucose and half fructose. It is commonly extracted and refined into the table sugar that is highly addictive though technically less sweet than pure fructose.

If fructose affects the blood sugar least of the three, why is it considered the most toxic form of sugar? Here’s how fructose is associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and liver toxicity – and what to do about it.


5 Downsides of Fructose

When eaten, fructose is digested and absorbed into the bloodstream via the small intestine. While it doesn’t raise blood sugar as immediately as glucose, it has more long-term negative issues than glucose.

This doesn’t mean you should never eat fruit or honey, but it’s important to be mindful of how much fructose you’re eating on a regular basis. You should also avoid non-Paleo sweeteners that are high in fructose, such as agave and corn syrup.

Here are the biggest reasons to limit your fructose intake.

1. It’s Harder to Digest

While glucose is broken down and absorbed for energy fairly easily by the digestive organs, fructose needs a little extra help.

Fructose needs to be converted in the liver to be used for energy. Not only does this extra step require more effort from the digestive system, but when the liver gets a bigger hit of fructose than it can handle, it converts the excess into extra body fat, which can result in inflammatory problems and even cardiovascular risk. This can increase the risk of issues like obesity, fatty liver disease, and heart disease.

While small amounts of fructose here and there won’t overwhelm the liver, chronically high doses of fructose can be toxic and even lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. So, a daily soda can be just as detrimental as a daily alcoholic beverage.

2. It Can Lead to Type II Diabetes

Because the liver converts extra fructose to fat, it can have a strong influence on insulin resistance. In fact, too much fructose can even tug the body in the direction of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

While all forms of excess sugars in the diet can lead to insulin, blood sugar, and diabetes problems, fructose is by far the most damaging. This is due, in part, to how fructose affects the hormones that control appetite.

They don’t send the same sorts of satiety signals to the brain that glucose does, disrupting feelings of satisfaction after eating or drinking it, which perpetuates even more cravings.

3. It Increases Obesity Risk

Excess fructose gets converted right into belly fat, and can even increase your odds of obesity. Too much belly fat increases your risk of:

Research shows that people who drink fructose-sweetened beverages have an almost nine percent increase in belly fat, compared to those who drink glucose-sweetened drinks and gain a five percent belly fat increase.

This doesn’t mean that artificial sweeteners are any better. In fact, diet soda intake is linked with increased belly fat as well.

4. It Leads to Cravings

While all sugar can have an addictive quality, fructose is especially problematic because it doesn’t signal feelings of fullness in the brain after consumption. In fact, it can trigger desires for more, leading to more frequent cravings and even addiction.

In today’s sugar-driven society, it’s estimated that for the average person, as much as 10 percent of their day’s total caloric intake comes from fructose – not just sugar, but fructose alone. The more fructose that people eat, the more they want, leading to a perpetual cycle of overeating.

5. It’s Hard to Avoid

Trying to avoid fructose can get discouraging fast. High fructose corn syrup can be found in lots of processed foods, and just because something isn’t directly labelled as containing fructose, doesn’t mean it’s fructose-free. If you’re serious about avoiding fructose, be prepared to call manufacturers to ask where something is derived from.

Of course the simpler answer is to avoid processed foods entirely. You’ll still encounter fructose in fruits, but since it is also paired with glucose, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, it won’t affect the body in the same manner.

Watch this video –The TRUTH on Fruit & Fructose



Bottom Line

While a moderate intake of fruit is fine, processed foods containing added sugars will slam your body with high levels of fructose. This can lead to health problems like obesity, insulin resistance, and even sugar addiction. Try cutting back on processed foods to keep your health on track.

Written by Aimee McNew

Author Bio:

Aimee McNew is a Certified Nutritionist who specializes in women’s health, thyroid problems, infertility, and digestive wellness. She ate her way back to health using a Paleo diet, lost 80 pounds, and had a healthy baby after numerous miscarriages. She focuses on simple nutrition practices that promote long-lasting results.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook


What Can Cause Eczema and Natural Eczema Treatment

 

Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease that causes dry, itchy and thickened skin that typically appears on the flexor surfaces of your body (crooks of your elbows or back of your knees).  What can cause eczema and natural eczema treatment


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes



Eczema- What Is It, Causes & Natural Treatment

Do you struggle with chronic eczema or regular flare-ups throughout the year? You’re not alone.

Over 31 million Americans suffer from atopic dermatitis, the medical term for eczema, and over half of these people have moderate to severe conditions.

Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease that causes dry, itchy and thickened skin that typically appears on the flexor surfaces of your body (crooks of your elbows or back of your knees).  It’s not just an irritating skin condition; it also severely impacts your quality of life and psychological well-being.

What Causes Eczema?

Eczema is a multifactor disease, but a few of the most common triggers are the following: your genes, an overactive immune system, and environmental triggers.

Your Genes

Let’s look at your DNA first. If both your parents have a history of eczema, there’s about a 70% chance that you will acquire eczema. That drops to 30% chance if only one parent was affected.

How does this happen? A disruption of the epidermal (outer) layer of the skin, a hallmark of eczema, can be caused by mutations in the gene that encode fillagrin.

Fillagrin is a protein that matures the skin cells that become the protective, outermost layer of the skin.

This dysfunction of your skin’s defense mechanism allows for increased penetration of irritating substances, which increases susceptibility to skin infections and eczema. Unfortunately, you can’t choose your parents (but you can still benefit from the solutions below).

An Overactive Immune System

An overactive immune system is another hallmark of eczema. Your immune system has two main armies: the “first line of defense” innate immune system army that prevents infections and the “seek and destroy” adaptive immune system that knocks out intruders once they’ve penetrated your defenses.

An overactive immune system might be the cause of your eczema flare-ups.

Eczema is characterized by a Th2-dominated immune response, where your body’s “seek and destroy” immune system runs amok, leading to the production of IgE antibodies (i.e., allergic reactions) and an inflammatory response.

Environmental Triggers

The combination of bad genes, dry skin and disrupted epidermal barriers creates a hypersensitivity reaction towards irritating environmental substances. Irritants can vary; they include dust mites, temperature, clothing material, excessive washing, lotions, smoke, etc.


Ways to Reduce Eczema

There is no cure for eczema, but a variety of treatments can be highly beneficial in reducing itchiness and preventing further breakouts. Let’s take a closer look.

Remove Food Allergens and Additives

Skin is the largest organ in the body, and what you eat has a tremendous impact on its health. Food allergies and intolerances are incredibly common in eczema suffers, and the research shows that 90% of those allergies are due to cow’s milk, hen’s eggs (not duck or goose), peanuts, wheat, and soy.

Almost all of the offending foods listed here are NOT Paleo, so adopting an ancestral approach and removing these allergenic foods can significantly improve eczema symptoms.

For more in-depth dietary changes, try the Autoimmune Paleo diet (AIP) or an Elimination diet for 4-12 weeks and assess progress. If aggravating symptoms appear after reintroducing a food, it could imply intolerance to that particular food. Try an AIP or elimination diet to see if milk, peanuts, wheat or soy are contributing to eczema symptoms.

Food additives like tartrazine, sodium benzoate, monosodium glutamate, sodium metabolite and tyramine can also aggravate eczema symptoms. Simply removing these harmful additives from your diet (i.e., no more processed or packaged foods) has been shown to markedly improve eczema after 10 months.

Swap Coffee for Oolong Tea

Your morning cup of Joe might taste great, but unfortunately, coffee beans are one of the most heavily sprayed crops on the planet and can worsen an overactive immune system. Make the switch to Oolong tea to cool inflammation, the overactive immune system response, and your eczema symptoms.

The researchers found oolong tea showed significant improvement in 63% of patients who were not responding to conventional treatment. They believe the benefits were due to polyphenols present in oolong tea. To reap the benefits, steep a 10g tea bag for 5 minutes in 1 liter of water, and drink in three equal servings between meals throughout the day.

Add More GLA

If you’re a regular PaleoHacks reader, you’re likely well aware of the fact that today’s modern diet contains a dramatic overabundance of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats to anti-inflammatory omega-3. However, one key player in the omega-6 family is the gamma-linoleic acid (GLA).

Research suggests that eczema sufferers have impaired conversion of linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) due to a dysfunction in an enzyme called delta-6-desaturase, which leads to deficiency and causes the barrier of the skin to become impaired.

Remember, essential fats like GLA must be obtained from your diet, but even on a Paleo diet, GLA is not easy to come by.

The highest concentrations are found in evening primrose and borage, as well as hemp oil, which can easily be added to salads and put on top of veggies (do not cook with hemp oil).

If you struggle with chronic and long-standing eczema, you may want to consider supplementing with GLA.

Add Supportive Probiotics

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria. The more “good” probiotics bacteria have, the happier your digestive system, the root of all inflammation. Your digestive tract is home to over 80% of your immune system, and its first response to any foreign invaders or insults is to trigger inflammation.

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition, so keeping your gut healthy is a crucial piece of the puzzle. Probiotics help prevent the uptake of allergens that trigger eczema.

Probiotics play a key role in maintaining the integrity of your gut barrier, reducing leaky gut, and preventing the uptake of allergens that trigger eczema.

Natural sources of probiotics are fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchee, or kombucha tea.

Supplementation with probiotics can be highly beneficial if you struggle with long-standing eczema, so look for strains high in Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

Boost Your Zinc and Vitamin D Intake

Zinc is required for the proper function of the delta-6-desaturase enzyme discussed above (#3 GLA), and deficiency has been shown to exacerbate symptoms of eczema.

A Paleo-based diet is the ideal platform for optimal zinc intake, as animal protein is hands down the best source of zinc. Increase your intake of darker cuts of meat like beef, venison, bison, elk and lamb, as well as including more seafood like oysters and mussels.

Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with increased risk of developing atopic dermatitis. Supplementation with vitamin D may help treat eczema in those who are deficient, something to consider if you live in a city with a true winter climate.

Lavender and Coconut Oil Cream (Home-Made)

You may have the ingredients for a powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial ointment right in your kitchen. Coconut oil is a nutrient-dense, gentle emollient that can be applied to the skin after a warm shower to help retain moisture in the skin.

Add some lavender essential oil, in a 1:5 ratio, to coconut oil to make a powerful and soothing natural ointment for irritated skin.

Reduce Stress Levels

Stress isn’t just pulling your hair out because you can’t cope, it’s also “being busy” from morning till after dark. Stress is a reality in today’s 24/7 society, and there is a positive correlation between stress and increased prevalence of eczema.

Stress reduction techniques like mindfulness meditation training, yoga or tai chi, coloring (yes, coloring books!) and singing all help to activate the vagus nerve in the brain that helps the body unwind and de-stress.

Maintain Your Ideal Body Composition

Today, two-thirds of the population in America is overweight or obese, and if you struggle with weight gain, the research shows it will increase your risk of eczema significantly.

Following a low-carb, Paleo-based diet, incorporating strength training and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) cardio is a great way to trim body fat and achieve your ideal body composition.

Quit Smoking

There is a strong association between smoking, exposure to smoke, and atopic dermatitis. The solution here is simple: stop smoking.

Detoxify

Eczema can worsen with exposure to allergens and irritants such as soaps, perfumes or laundry detergents. Use a mild detergent to wash clothing, with no bleach, dryer sheets or fabric softener. Use a scent-free, sensitive skin, hypoallergenic detergent that is free from dyes, fragrances and irritating residues.

Watch this video – How To Treat Eczema Naturally | Top Home Remedies For Eczema



Bottom Line

Eczema isn’t just annoying and irritating, it also deeply impacts your overall health and vitality.

This chronic and inflammatory skin condition can be reversed by removing aggravating foods from your diet, upgrading your digestive health, correcting nutrient deficiencies and cooling inflammation.

Find the right solutions for your body and put an end to the dry, itchy and sensitive skin that holds you back from feeling your best.

Written by Dr. Marc Bubbs

Author Bio:

Dr. Marc Bubbs, ND is a Naturopathic Doctor, Strength Coach, Author, Speaker, and Blogger practicing in Toronto, Canada. He believes that diet, exercise, and lifestyle factors have the most profound impact on your overall health and performance. Marc is the author of The Paleo Project – A 21st Guide to Looking Leaner, Getting Stronger, & Living Longer and currently serves as the Sports Nutrition Lead for Canadian Men’s Olympic Basketball Team.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook


Thursday, March 23, 2023

Here is Your Guide to Good vs. Bad Cholesterol

 

Cholesterol has been blamed for heart disease for decades. But is it really as bad for you as you think? Here is your guide to good vs. bad cholesterol.



Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes



Cholesterol has been blamed for heart disease for decades. But is it really as bad for you as you think?

New research is in, and cholesterol isn’t the culprit.

But if it’s not the villain the medical community has made it out to be, then what is it?

And what about the differences between “good” and “bad” cholesterol? Here are the basics of what you need to know in this simple guide to good and bad cholesterol.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an essential building block of cell membranes, and without it, we couldn’t survive.

We need cholesterol for these essential bodily processes:

  • Maintaining cell membrane structure
  • Producing hormones
  • Converting sun exposure to vitamin D
  • Insulating nerve fibers
  • Producing bile
  • Metabolizing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)

Our bodies produce the majority of the cholesterol we need to stay healthy. The liver makes about 1,000 milligrams of cholesterol per day, or 85 percent of the required amount.

The remaining cholesterol comes from dietary sources, but it isn’t necessary to limit your consumption. When you eat higher levels of dietary cholesterol, the liver compensates by producing less. So while cholesterol levels can become elevated, it isn’t in response to what you eat.

Bottom line: Cholesterol, required for basic cellular health, is produced within the liver regardless of how much dietary cholesterol you eat.


What about Good and Bad Cholesterol?

Most people know cholesterol as the “good” HDL kind and the “bad” LDL variety. However, HDL and LDL aren’t even cholesterol! They’re lipoproteins that transport cholesterol throughout the body.

Lipoproteins are made of fats and proteins, and act as little carriages to transport cholesterol to and from the liver. LDL, or low-density lipoproteins, are bigger and carry less weight than HDL, or high-density lipoproteins.

HDL got its reputation for being the good guy because it collects cholesterol from circulating in the bloodstream and returns it to the liver to be broken down. People who believe cholesterol to be a cause of heart disease consider this to be protective.

However, they forget that while the liver breaks it down, it also manufactures new cholesterol each day and sends it back out. So, destroying cholesterol isn’t the endgame.

HDL and LDL are carriers that bring cholesterol to and from the liver in a cyclical rhythm. Neither kind is inherently good or bad.

LDL got its reputation as bad cholesterol because it takes cholesterol from the liver and carries to tissues. This was considered to be bad because it was assumed that this meant cholesterol was going to sit in the arteries to clog them up. However, LDL is really doing the body a favor by delivering cholesterol to the various places it’s needed.

When cholesterol is tested, it’s considered to be a good result when HDL is high and LDL is low, and when total cholesterol is low.

But keep in mind that diet isn’t what influences these numbers, and many other health issues can cause LDL to be high and HDL to be low, including:

Bottom line : HDL and LDL are carriers that bring cholesterol to and from the liver in a cyclical rhythm. Neither kind is inherently good or bad.


When LDL Cholesterol Can Be Problematic

While high LDL isn’t necessarily bad, it can still be an inflammatory marker associated with cardiovascular risk. LDL that is deemed high by laboratory standards can indicate inflammation or other problems in the body.

LDL becomes problematic once it has been oxidized. Oxidation in the body can be compared to the detrimental effects of rust on metal – it slowly erodes over time. This can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries, which is still a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to test whether your LDL is oxidized or not. This is why most doctors still associate high levels of LDL with an automatically increased risk of heart disease.

Ultimately, inflammation is the body’s natural and protective response to injury, because inflammation is meant to speed a healing process. When inflammation begins, regardless of the trigger, it’s possible that the liver sends out higher levels of LDL to fortify cells with nutrients and to improve hormone production.

When inflammation continues, however, LDL becomes prone to oxidation. Even if plaque doesn’t accumulate in arteries, long-term inflammation in the body will lead to disease formation, including cancerautoimmunity, and other chronic conditions.

Bottom line: LDL cholesterol can be problematic if it becomes oxidized or damaged, but there is no easy way to test for this.

How HDL Cholesterol Can Be Helpful

So what do you do if your LDL becomes oxidized? Enter HDL, which saves the day by extracting LDL from artery walls and returning it to the liver for breakdown, reducing plaque build-up.

When your HDL numbers are low, it means there are less carriers to remove oxidized LDL. Increasing HDL is a health-protective measure regardless of what your LDL or total cholesterol numbers are.

This is because HDL also works as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent within the body, both of which are good regardless of what else is going on.

Bottom line: HDL works as an antioxidant within the body, and can help remove oxidized LDL.

Watch this video – LDL Cholesterol level: Your lab results explained



Written by Aimee McNew

Author Bio:

Aimee McNew is a Certified Nutritionist who specializes in women’s health, thyroid problems, infertility, and digestive wellness. She ate her way back to health using a Paleo diet, lost 80 pounds, and had a healthy baby after numerous miscarriages. She focuses on simple nutrition practices that promote long-lasting results.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook


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