Did You Know?

The Latest Buzzword is Inflammation

The latest medical buzzword is inflammation.

It sells lots of drugs.  But if we took charge of our wellness naturally we wouldn’t have to participate in that medical carousel.

What have we been told about high cholesterol and heart disease for so many years: restrict fat.  Has it been working? No!  And the medical professionals are finally recognizing this.  What is the main culprit? Sugar, carbs!

The long-established dietary recommendations have only served to create significant elevations in obesity, diabetes and heart disease. What’s the common denominator? Inflammation.  Despite the fact that 25% of the population takes expensive statin medications and despite the fact we have reduced the fat content of our diets, more Americans will die this year of heart disease than ever before.

We recognize inflammation when we see it on the outside of our bodies as with inflamed skin.

But what does inflammation do to us internally?

It causes cholesterol to accumulate in the wall of the blood vessel causing heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol would move freely throughout the body as nature intended. It is inflammation that causes cholesterol to become trapped.

The body’s natural defense to foreign invaders such as bacteria or viruses is to cause inflammation (think of a rise in fever as a healthy inflammatory response to a ‘germ’). The cycle of inflammation is perfect in how it protects your body from these bacterial and viral invaders. However, if we chronically expose the body to injury by toxins or foods the human body was never designed to process, a condition occurs called chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is just as harmful as acute inflammation (like fever) is beneficial.

Would you knowingly expose yourself repeatedly to foods that cause an inflammatory response?

That is what we’ve been doing by following the recommended mainstream diet that is low in fat and high in polyunsaturated fats and carbohydrates, not knowing we were causing repeated injury to our blood vessels. This repeated injury creates chronic inflammation leading to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

What are these offending foods?

Simple, highly processed carbohydrates (sugar and related sweeteners, flour and all the products made from them…think cookies, doughnuts, pizza, sodas, chips, and much of the microwavable foods) and the excess consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils (which are GMO’d as well…but that’s another unpleasant story) like soybean, corn and sunflower that are found in many processed foods.

What does a diseased artery look like?

Like someone took a brush and scrubbed repeatedly against its wall. Several times a day, every day, the foods we eat create small injuries compounding into more injuries, causing the body to respond continuously and appropriately with inflammation.

When you spike your blood sugar level several times a day, every day, it is exactly like taking sandpaper to the inside of your delicate blood vessels.

What does the body (not our minds/emotions) think of the treats we crave?

While we crave these offending treats, our bodies respond as if a foreign invader arrived declaring war. These foods have been slowly poisoning everyone. A doughnut, for example,  not only contains sugars, it is baked in one of many omega-6 oils such as soybean. Chips and fries are soaked in soybean oil; processed foods are manufactured with omega-6 oils for longer shelf life. While omega-6’s are essential, they are part of every cell membrane controlling what goes in and out of the cell, they must be in the correct balance with omega-3’s.

If the balance shifts by consuming excessive omega-6, the cell membrane produces chemicals called cytokines that directly cause inflammation.

Today’s mainstream American diet has produced an extreme imbalance of these two fats. The ratio of imbalance ranges from 15:1 to as high as 30:1 in favor of omega-6. That’s a tremendous amount of cytokines causing inflammation. In today’s food environment, a 3:1 ratio would be optimal and healthy.

How does excess weight play a role in causing inflammation?

To make matters worse, the excess weight you are carrying from eating these foods creates overloaded fat cells that pour out large quantities of pro-inflammatory chemicals that add to the injury caused by having high blood sugar. The process that began with a doughnut (or, don’t kid yourself…a huge bagel or one of those oversized ‘healthy’ muffins) turns into a vicious cycle over time that creates heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, joint pain and finally, Alzheimer’s disease, as the inflammatory process continues unabated.

Where do we begin?

There is but one answer to quieting inflammation, and that is returning to foods closer to their natural state. To build muscle, eat more healthy proteins. Choose carbohydrates that are very complex such as colorful fruits and vegetables. Cut down or eliminate inflammation-causing omega-6 fats like corn and soybean oil and the processed foods that are made from them.

One tablespoon of corn oil contains 7,280 mg of omega-6; soybean contains 6,940 mg. Instead, use olive oil or butter from grass-fed beef.

The above has been excerpted from the following article.  Here’s is the link if you would like to read it in depth.  http://www.sott.net/article/242516-Heart-Surgeon-Speaks-Out-On-What-Really-Causes-Heart-Disease.

Meanwhile…take charge of your wellness…respect your amazing body and nourish it with the right foods not the ones that the commercials say we should be eating…they only benefit the deep pockets of big business while harming you.

Do share these important findings with everyone you know. It’s a blessing to be able to help one another.

Until next time…stay healthy, think peace, be love and see love in everyone! 

 Andrea Candee is a master herbalist for over 25 years with a consultation practice in South Salem, NY. She lectures throughout the country and at corporate wellness centers about taking charge of your health naturally. Media expert and author, her award-winning book, Gentle Healing for Baby and Child (Simon & Schuster), received The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval. Andrea is noted nationally for her unique and successful approach to Lyme Disease and works with clients and their pets anywhere in the country.

Her DVD, The Healing Kitchen, a filming of her acclaimed workshop, is now available so you don’t have to be local to benefit from these empowering teachings.

Also available in hard copy or in PDF format are her booklets: Herbs, Recipes & Guidance to Winter WellnessSparkling Home, Healthy Planet, Clean Green, and The Cell Phone Dilemma…options for wellness in an unseen world.  

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    Andrea Candee

    This Simon & Schuster publication offers parents a guide to child-friendly herbs and other natural remedies for common ailments and injuries. Awarded The Seal of Approval by The National Parenting Center. All remedies may be used by adults as well! For more information, click here.

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    Gentle Healing for Baby and Child

    A Parent's Guide (Simon & Schuster) Awarded The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval...266 pages

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