Is Your Healthy Food Making You Sick?

There is nothing more difficult than to write about food in connection with health. The subject is vast and controversial. Countless nutrition experts, thousands of health influencers, hundreds of books, dozens of fad diets, and still so many unhealthy people trying desperately to figure out why they are not getting any better despite religiously following the latest health and nutrition advice. 

When you take two experts with conflicting views, both will argue that their way of obtaining nutrition is the only way and everything other than that is either completely wrong, or just misguided. What complicates things even more is the fact that both experts base their statements on latest research and often on their personal, real life experience. Nutritional "converts" who "have seen the light" are the worst since they seldom leave any room for deviation from the method that worked for them.

How to make sense of it all? Just look at the macro-nutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Some experts will tell you not to eat any carbs at all, others that you should not to touch any fat. There is a whole fitness movement telling people to eat only red meat, bacon, eggs and butter. Some experts suggest that fish and seafood should be consumed as the only animal protein. Others swear that a fat-free vegan, raw vegan, or even the fat-free raw vegan diet is the only way for you to have a long, healthy life.

How about the micronutrients - vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids? It is a well known fact that vegans often lack vitamin B12, DHA omega 3 fatty acid, and the amino acid taurine, while those on a strict carnivore diet often lack magnesium, vitamin C and fiber, and may have increased risk of colorectal cancer. People who embraced the fat free diet, on the other hand, have difficulty absorbing fat soluble vitamins from their food.

Food is problematic for many reasons. Some foods, like peanuts, shrimps, celery, or strawberries are potent allergens. People with celiac disease cannot eat anything containing gluten. People who cannot digest lactose should stay away from cow's milk and cow's milk products. And so on, and so on... but food is more complicated than that. Animal fats like butter and lard are high in saturated fat that is considered to be detrimental to heart health. There is also a big concern about the hormones and antibiotics that might have been used in the animal husbandry, not to mention the ethical, environmental, cultural or religious concerns.

So, how about fruits and vegetables? Here things get even more complicated. Many plants produce endocrine disruptors and goitrogens. During their evolutionary history plants developed survival strategies. Unlike a deer that can escape a hunter, a carrot or a cabbage is completely stuck in the spot it grows. In order to survive and carry their genetic information to the next generation, plants developed compounds that make them indigestible or even poisonous to humans or animals thus preventing their extinction. Although these anti-nutrients can cause serious upset in some people, plants are generally considered "healthy" food choices since they carry such vital nutrients like vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber, protein and beneficial bio-active compounds like pycnogenol or resveratrol, that act in synergy to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.

While some of the plant anti-nutrients can have beneficial, anti-oxidant effects in the human body, some can cause 

• altered microbiome 
• serious damage to the digestive system 
• inflammation
• potential auto-immune response 
• malnutrition since they interfere with nutrient absorption
• severe allergies
• and even poisoning. 

Soaking, sprouting, cooking, or fermentation are the strategies many cultures use not only to improve nutrient availability but also to make the otherwise problematic foods more easily digestible. 

Here are some of the anti-nutrients found in plants: 

• alcaloids - naturally occurring nitrogen-containing compounds that are found in plants, fungi, bacteria and animals, some being extremely toxic, some used by humans as hallucinogens, aphrodisiacs or medicines (ex. quinine, morphine, ephedrine)
• cyanogenic glycosides - cherries, peaches, corn, almonds
• gluten - grains
• glucosinolates - goitrogenic compounds in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale and broccoli
• glycoalkaloids - plants in the nightshade family like tomatoes and eggplants, as well as  potatoes (skin, sprouts, the "eyes")
  
• histamine - histamine containing foods and histamine liberators including bananas, strawberries, papaya, citrus fruit, tomatoes, spinach, almonds, pistachio nuts, cinnamon, cloves, but also fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, miso paste
• lectins - raw beans, peanuts, whole grains, nightshade vegetable such as tomatoes and potatoes, pecan nuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, sprouts such as alfalfa or mung bean sprouts 
• oxalates - spinach, Swiss chard, rhubarb, beets, cacao, almonds, cashew nuts, dried apricots, kiwis, raspberries, cinnamon and turmeric as a spice
• phenols - most berries, grapes, apples, spinach, red lettuce, broccoli, and citrus fruit
• phytates (phytic acid) - grains, seeds, nuts
• protease inhibitors - grains and legumes 
• pyrrolizidine alkaloids - hepatotoxic and genotoxic compounds that are found in some flowering plants and herbs like borage, traditionally used as medicine; honey, bee pollen, grains, milk, eggs and organ meats (offal) can contain these toxic alkaloids.
• salicilates - most fruits and vegetable, especially blueberries, cherries, peaches, grapes, avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, spinach, zucchini, pine nuts, spices such as curry powder and garam masala, and herbs such as rosemary and thyme
• saponins - legumes, especially peanuts; grains especially quinoa; licorice root, spinach
  
• sulforaphane - cruciferous vegetable such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, arugula, watercress
• tannins - red wine, tea, cacao but also grains such as barley, corn and quinoa; beans, lentils, chickpeas; nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts and Brazil nut; seeds such as chia, sesame, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds; red skinned apples and kiwis

People who are sensitive to one or more of these compounds should avoid foods that have the potential to make them sick. 

Some people report almost miraculous healing from chronic diseases when they stop eating fruits and vegetables. Others improve considerably when they stop eating grains. Those who have chosen raw food or the raw vegan diet report incredible improvement in their health. They have more energy, lose weight (where necessary), sleep and look better. Many stay healthy for a very long time, especially if they supplement with the nutrients that are missing in their diet, but some people get very sick when they start juicing and eating large amounts of fruit and leafy greens. The raw food diet may include too many nuts and too much fructose. Too many dates, too many bananas and other sweet fruits in your diet can cause blood glucose spikes and energy crashes. 

A store bought vegan milk alternatives often contain added sugar, added seed oil and the gut lining damaging carrageenan. I don't even want to talk here about the rather common contamination of crops with heavy metals, nor about the pesticides in conventionally grown produce, not even about the genetically modified crops. This is a subject for another article.

Results of a small, three-day study involving 14 people was published recently and surprised some in the raw food community. The participants were divided into three groups: one group was given whole plants, the second group was doing a juice fast, and the third one was given a mix diet of whole plants and juices. Those who did the juice fast had the biggest changes in their microbiome and showed an increase in inflammation causing bacteria. The problem with the study is that it wasn't a double-blind study and involved only fourteen people. Also, I did not find any information on what kind of juices were given to the participants. The only information was that the juice did not have any fiber and contained too much sugar. My questions: Was the juice freshly pressed? And! Who tries to do a cleansing juice fast with sugar loaded fruit juices? This is not how it should be done. Another question, if you are unhealthy and have distorted microbiome, what happens to you when you go on a green juice fast?

Interestingly, many raw food lovers who perform a green juice detox annually report increased stamina, improved digestion, and a healthier looking skin. An alternative cancer therapist Dr. Thomas Lodi suggests a long term green juice fast to his patients. The alkalizing and detoxifying properties of chlorophyll from green plants cannot be underestimated. 

Before I start a food fight on this blog, I would like to state that we are all individuals with individual genetics, individual metabolism and individual food preferences. Some of us tolerate certain foods better than others. If you experience unexplained symptoms and are not sure whether your healthy diet makes you sick there are a few things you can do:

• have a food allergy test
• have a comprehensive food sensitivity test (secondary food allergies) and remove all the foods you are reacting to; the sensitivity often disappears after a few months, when the immune system had enough time to "recover" and the gut lining is restored
• test for anti-nutrient sensitivity (histamine, lectins, tannins, etc.)
• have a fructose intolerance test
  
• if you eat tree nuts, peanut butter or grains such as quinoa, test for aflatoxin sensitivity
• test for nutritional deficiencies and supplement accordingly 
• test for parasitic infestation and candida no matter whether you are a vegan, carnivore or omnivore
• have a leaky gut test
  
• help your immune system and implement food rotation allowing three to four days before you eat the same food again - if you had a carrot on Monday, wait till Wednesday or Thursday before you have a carrot again. If you detect some sensitivity to one or more foods, you might want to stop eating them for a longer period or remove them from your diet completely. Learn to make meals with only a few ingredients if you want to determine what is upsetting your system, and, as mentioned above, test for secondary food allergies/sensitivities (ELISA IgG test) if you observe symptoms like bloating, indigestion or unexplained weight gain
• do some research to find alternatives to the food that causes upset in your body - for instance, if oxalates are your problem, eat arugula, Romaine lettuce or even kale instead of spinach or Swiss chard
• a food diary may be very useful - write down what you eat during the day and record any symptoms you observe short term and long term; consult a certified nutritionist if the process seems too overwhelming to you
• completely avoid foods that cause problems.
  

I am aware that articles like this one may cause confusion and anxiety. This is not my intention. I simply wish to bring some clarity to all those who embraced a very healthy lifestyle but somehow feel that the food they are eating daily is not working to their advantage. 

As we strive for biological optimization of our bodies, trying to stay as healthy as possible and to look fabulous all the time, our food choices matter. However, when our healthy food is making us sick, we need to learn how to avoid it and why, and to look for less problematic alternatives. There is no such thing as one size fits all. We might be similar metabolic types but your body chemistry is unique to you. Your health and longevity depends on what you put into your body. Keep this in mind and eat to thrive.

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2025

Interesting read: Natural Toxins in Food 

*Information in this article is for educational purposes only. it is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease. Always consult a certified healthcare practitioner before making any changes in your diet. 

AI generated images. Source here

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

What Is Coconut Oil?

Coconut oil is an edible oil that has been extracted from the flesh of mature fruits of the coconut palm or the Cocos nucifera.

Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years by cultures living in the tropics. People of these cultures traditionally demonstrated incredible levels of good health and fitness, particularly if they followed their traditional diet that was normally rich in tropical fruits and coconut oil. Their health often deteriorated when they started adding unhealthy Western foods to their diet.

Understanding Fats

There is a widely spread misconception about fat. The idea that fat, especially the saturated fat, was bad for you originated in the 1960s-70s. There was a faulty research that pointed out that fat was the main culprit in the heart disease. This idea gave birth to low-fat diet and a marketing craze of low-fat, no-fat "food" products. In 1977 low-fat diet was recommended to the American society by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee. This recommendation caused more harm than good. There was not only no decrease in heart disease, Americans were getting sicker and fatter than ever before. Only recently, after evaluation of the empirical data "powers-to-be" came to realization that we need fat in our diet and that saturated fat is not necessarily evil.

We need fats in our diet! Fats helps us absorb the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Fats are necessary for the proper neurological function and other processes within the body. They provide insulation to our body and the internal organs and are stored as a valuable energy reserve. So, instead of vilifying fat, we should eat the right fats.

Fats are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. (Some phospholipids may also contain nitrogen and phosphorus atoms.) The number of hydrogen molecules is what determines saturation of fats. When each carbon atom has its maximum number of hydrogen atoms attached to it, we call that fat a saturated fat. In other words, a saturated fat is a fat that is filled to its capacity with hydrogen atoms. Saturated fats are usually of animal origin - like lard, tallow and butter. They are solid and rather unstable at room temperature.

Plant-derived fats are unsaturated fats. They are either monounsaturated - like the oleic fatty acid in olive oil; or polyunsaturated - like linoleic fatty acid found in corn, soybean, peanut, cottonseed or safflower oil.

Although plant-derived, coconut oil belongs to the group of saturated fats, it is a source of medium- and short-chain fatty acids. It does not oxidize when exposed to oxygen, it liquefies in room temperature and it has a high burning point.

Natural coconut oil consists of more than 90% saturated fat, but it also contains some unsaturated fat that includes mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids:

• Most saturated fatty acids in coconut oil are medium chain triglycerides: lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid.
• Linoleic acid (a polyunsaturated fatty acid)
• Oleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid)
• Plyphenols such as phenolic acid which is responsible for the aroma and taste of the coconut oil.

Coconut oil also contains vitamins E and K, choline and iron. 

The biochemistry of fats is rather complicated, but not very difficult to understand. If you are interested in biochemistry and want to learn more about fats, please click here.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

The most recent research confirms what was known for ages: Coconut oil is good for you! The many health benefits include:

• Mental health and cognition - Research shows that medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut oil can significantly improve cognitive function in humans and animals. Studies demonstrated that both, people and aging dogs consuming MCTs performed better on cognitive tests that those who did not. Moreover, MCTs produce ketones which are used by the body as an insulin-independent energy source. The most recent research suggests that Alzheimer's patients may not be unable to properly utilize insulin in their brains. The brain needs insulin in order to use glucose, but when brain cells lack glucose, they die. This may lead to brain damage and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. Since ketones deliver energy necessary to support healthy function and structure of brain cells they may play important role in treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. More research needs to be conducted, but there is hope for those who suffer from this incurable disease.
• Digestion - Coconut oil may help improve digestion and digestive disorders. The medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in coconut oil are easier to digest that the long chain fatty acids in other oils. This means that the digestion of coconut oil puts less strain on liver and pancreas since the digestion of MCFAs does not require bile or pancreatic enzymes. Coconut oil can help alleviate symptoms of Crohn's disease, pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis and stomach ulcers. It speeds digestion and can prevent constipation. Coconut oil also has the unique ability to kill or expel parasites of the digestive tract including worms such as tapeworms and protozoa such as girardia. Coconut oil also helps keep H. pylori bacteria in check.
• Weight loss - Coconut oil can help you lose weight. It works on many levels: it helps improve digestion and heal the digestive tract, prevent constipation, increase metabolic rate, prevent food cravings, and improve the thyroid function. 
• Heart health - For many researchers coconut oil is quite puzzling as far as heart health is concerned. Coconut oil contains both, heart-friendly myristic fatty acid and the lauric fatty acid that is generally considered to be detrimental to cardiovascular health. However, the combination of these fatty acids in coconut oil tends to improve the cholesterol profile since it increases the HDL (good cholesterol) thus improving the HDL/LDL (good versus bad cholesterol) ratio in blood. The HDL/LDL ratio is regarded as an accurate indicator of the heart disease.
• Immune system - Anti-microbial properties of coconut oil have been well known for centuries to people living in tropical cultures. Research confirms that coconut oil has the ability to improve immune function. Among others, coconut oil contains lauric acid which is converted by the body to monolaurin. Monolaurin is a natural component in breast milk. research shows that monolaurin has the capacity to kill yeast, viruses and gram positive bacteria such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus or Listeria.
• Candida - Capric acid, caprilic acid, caproic acid, lauric acid and myristic acid - fatty acids present in coconut oil are very useful in healing and preventing candida. They are well known for their antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. Regular use of coconut oil helps not only heal systemic candidiasis, but also to prevent recurrent infection.
• Dental care - Coconut oil is often used to prevent tooth decay. Applied topically, coconut oil heals swollen and inflamed gums. Many people use coconut oil instead of toothpaste, others perform a simple daily ritual known as oil pulling wherein a spoonful of coconut oil is swished between the teeth for 15 minutes or so. Coconut oil with its anti-microbial properties acts as a unique mouth cleanser. It not only removes bacteria and plaque, it brightens the teeth, heals oral infections and prevents bad breath.
• Vision - A study conducted by Vallikannan Baskaran, from the Central Food Technological Research Institute in India, demonstrated that consumption of coconut oil promotes the bio-availability of lutein which is necessary for maintaining eye health in aging adults. 
• Skin health - Coconut oil helps to heal skin infections, allergic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, sunburn and wounds. Its antibacterial properties make it a perfect ointment for infected wounds. It stops infections of the wound and the putrefaction of adjacent skin tissues.
• Skincare - Coconut oil is a wonderful moisturizer and emollient. It may help to reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin. Since the virgin coconut oil is free from any additives, it is a perfect solution for delicate or sensitive skin.
• Haircare - Coconut oil is a wonderful conditioner for hair and scalp. Traditionally it has been used to ensure a healthy hair growth and to prevent scalp infections and dandruff. 

Buying Coconut Oil

Buying coconut oil might not be as easy as it seems. The recent coconut oil "craze" brought tons of coconut oil on the market. There is not a single supermarket or a health food store that would not carry coconut oil today. But like with everything, not all products are created equal and there is a difference not only in price, but also in the quality. Remember to always buy certified organic, cold pressed, hexane-free product.

By Dominique Allmon


*This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.


Health Benefits of Coconut Oil by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Support Immune System During Cancer Therapy

"Never deny a diagnosis, but do deny the negative verdict that may go with it." - Norman Cousins 

For James

Cancer diagnosis is probably the worst thing that can happen to you. It comes as an incredible shock to the patient and it is a no lesser shock to the patient's relatives. What follows the diagnosis cannot be described in words. No one can understand the fear unless he or she has been diagnosed. 

A cascade of questions follows the diagnosis. Why me? What went wrong? How did this happen? What caused it? Could I have done something differently? Is there anything I can do to slow the progress of the disease? What are my chances? Can I be cured? How can I mitigate side effects of chemotherapy? What can I eat? etc. etc. etc.

Fear, guilt, uncertainty about the therapy and its outcome follow the patient like a dark shadow. 

Once the therapy has been chosen by the oncologist, the patient has to deal with horrifying side effects. Depending on the type of therapy or the drugs used, the patient experiences 

• weakened immune system
• high blood pressure
• anemia 
• loss of appetite 
• changes in taste
  
• indigestion
  
• constipation
  
• diarrhea
  
• nausea 
• vomiting
• increased urination 
• kidney dysfunction 
  
• muscle loss
  
• skin and nail changes
• hair loss
• fatigue
• confusion
  
• overall weakness
  

to name the most common and visible ones.

Patients who asked their oncologist for nutritional advice are often told that they can eat anything they want but might need to lose weight if they are obese. The more lucky ones are told to try the Mediterranean diet that is known for its overall health benefits.

Why is food even important during cancer treatment? 

We all need nutrients, but people undergoing cancer therapy even more so. They need to build up strength and stamina, strengthen their immune system, and nourish their bodies that are being weakened by cancer and the cancer treatment drugs. Some foods might be better than others, so how do we choose the right ones?

Although the food industry does not want us to know, many of the food items that we consume daily contain unhealthy ingredients, some of them carcinogenic or cancer growth promoting. Some of the worst foods and substances for cancer patients or anyone who wants to stay healthy, for that matter, include:

• sugar and refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, cornflakes, cakes, cookies, pastry, donuts, or ice cream
  
• processed meats like hot dogs, corned beef, ham, bacon, or summer sausage
• fried, deep fried and charred foods 
• conventional dairy 
• alcohol. 

Anything processed and packaged is full of added sugar, high fructose syrup, or artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fats, preserving agents, artificial coloring, chemical flavors, and flavor enhancers. Just check the list of ingredients. Some ingredients might not even be listed if they are present at an incidental level. Some are listed as "spices," "flavors," "natural" or "artificial flavoring" that can combine countless chemical ingredients and are usually considered to be the manufacturer's protected "secret" formulas. 

Understanding how fast food, junk food, and packaged foods of all kinds, are affecting our bodies, we all shall agree that in order to prevent chronic disease, heal from cancer, or stay healthy for as long as possible, we must eat food that is full of vital nutrients and free from disease- or inflammation-causing chemicals. 

Nutrition is complicated but many nutritionists would suggest that patients eat a low-glycemic diet and add more fruit and vegetables, preferably organic, to their daily meals. They could also add some organic fish and chicken, mushrooms, beans, whole grains, nuts, healthy fats, and spices to their meal plan. However, because of their high carbohydrate content, legumes, grains, root vegetables, fruits, and even some nuts, should be limited. And since patients are usually very dehydrated, they should drink plenty of filtered water and organic green tea.

But what if the therapy makes it impossible for the patient to even hold the food down? 

I am an advocate of a raw food lifestyle that includes foods like raw fruits, vegetables and sprouted nuts and seeds that are rich in enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and various health promoting phytonutrients but I am aware that raw food is not optimal for everyone. I understand that roughage in raw foods might cause some discomfort in patients with compromised digestive tracts due to chemotherapy or radiation. However, turning a salad into a green juice, healthy smoothie or a nutritious raw soup, would make the raw food more easily digestible and still deliver the nutrients needed for optimal health. Use a juicer or blend the ingredients in a blender, add a few drops of virgin olive oil, some chopped fresh herbs and organic spices, and voilà! Your raw soup is ready. A certified nutritionist may help you find the best recipes to suit your condition. 

Some immune system-modulating nutrients, like vitamin C and vitamin D for instance, can be supplemented daily. However, if you are undergoing chemotherapy, high doses of antioxidants might interfere with the treatment making it less effective. Mega doses of vitamin C delivered intravenously, on the other hand, will have the desired oxidative effect and work to destroy the cancer cells. 

Supplements like 

• modified citrus pectin (Pectasol) 
• graviola extract 
• liposomal glutathione 
• curcumin
• sulforaphane 
• medicinal mushrooms 
• mistletoe (Iscar/Iscador)
• fiber 
• laetrile 
• molecular hydrogen 
• pancreatic enzymes
• probiotics 
• alpha lipoic acid
• berberine 
• thymoquinone (compound from the nigella sativa seed)
• green tea 
• melatonin (that not only improves sleep but also supports the immune system),  

to mention only a few, are also often included in the alternative cancer treatment protocols since they all support the patient's immune system. Some compounds, like the glutathione, are used as an adjunct to chemotherapy, while others, like the thymoquinone for instance, are contraindicated around active tumor-directed therapy. Always consult your oncologist before adding a new supplement to your daily routine since some supplements may interfere with the cancer medication. 

Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut can help restore healthy gut microbiome and help with digestion and nutrient absorption.

Natural solutions like ginger tea made of sliced fresh ginger rhizome and purified water, might help the patient manage nausea without horrible side effects. 

Patients undergoing cancer therapy may experience severe dehydration. They must replace the lost fluids and electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are vital for maintaining key bodily functions. The best way to replenish the lost electrolytes naturally is to add a tiny pinch of pink Himalayan salt and some freshly pressed lemon juice into a glass of purified water. Fresh coconut water straight out of a fresh young coconut works as well. By all means avoid sports drinks since they are either loaded with sugar or are full of artificial sweeteners and flavors.

Dr. Lodi, whom I consider to be one of the most interesting personalities in the field of integrative oncology, has a full protocol for cancer patients that involves, among others, raw food, juicing, detoxification, and fasting. The patient must change the "terrain" in which cancer proliferates, and make his own body inhospitable to new cancer cells. 

"Cancer is not a single cellular disease. Indeed, it's a multifactorial event which happens differently in each person." - Dan Rubin, Naturopathic Oncologist 

Oncogenesis is a complex process and cancer cells are very tricky, but patients can learn new strategies that promote healing and recovery, and prevent cancer from spreading throughout the body or from coming back once the patient is declared cancer-free. 

To support the immune system, healthy eating habits are vital for any patient undergoing cancer therapy, but in order to heal, the whole lifestyle must be changed. 

A health coach would suggest

• weight loss (where necessary)
• balanced blood sugar (balance and monitor)
• balanced hormones 
• fasting or fasting-mimicking diet 
• increased physical activity (wherever possible)
• meditation to increase emotional well being
• stress control
• restorative sleep
• infrared sauna
• hyperbaric oxygen 
• lymphatic drainage  
• holistic dental care and dental detox
• heavy metal detox 
• liver detox
• colon cleanse 
• treatment for parasitic infestation 
  
• environment free of toxins and harmful chemicals
• life free of toxic and destructive relationships
• emotional detox and trauma therapy (where necessary).

If you want to heal, surround yourself with people you can trust. Find a support group. Find a registered nutritionist who understands cancer. Stop watching the news on TV. Resolve your conflicts. De-clutter your house. Find a hobby that would enrich your mind and soul. 

All this might seem overwhelming at first but you can do it gradually, one item at a time. Ask for help. Hire a coach. Hire a personal trainer. Mobilize family members to do the tasks you are unable or not willing to do anymore. Create an environment in which you can heal and return your body to a healthy equilibrium.

Your disease is not some kind of punishment that you deserve. It developed over time in an environment that wasn't conducive to health. The medical team that is taking care of you can only provide the necessary medication but to get healthy, you might have to revise your beliefs and change your habits. Qualified people can show you how to do this but no one can do it for you. You are the master of your own universe.

Learn about your disease. Do your own research. As Dr. Lodi says, you are not your diagnosis. You can activate your healing potential, but the healing will take time, so be patient. Be consistent. Trust in your body's ability to heal. You are magnificent. Persevere! Don't ever give up.

By Dominique Allmon

Post scriptum 

I wrote this short article for my husband who was diagnosed with stage IV renal cell carcinoma in October 2021. His immunotherapy began in January 2022. We did a lot of research and were completely inundated with often conflicting information at this initial stage of his treatment. My first visit to the cancer treatment center left me speechless. It was a very long day since we had to drive for 250 miles to get the treatment but there was time for a quick lunch at the center's cafeteria. The cafeteria was a place where patients and their relatives, doctors, nurses and the center's personnel would normally have lunch. There was hardly anything I wanted to eat. Like in most American coffee shops, there were a few ready-made salads, some sandwiches, pasta and not too many healthy dishes on the menu. What shocked me the most, however, were the sugar loaded cakes and deserts. Information that sugar is really a toxic, cancer cells-feeding  substance seemed to have escaped those who run that establishment. It was very sad to watch the patients who just received their chemotherapy session eat the poison that gave the cancer cells new fuel. 

Old habits die hard and there is nothing more difficult than changing the way people eat. If you were diagnosed with cancer, you need to reconsider your choices. In many cases you will have to give up many of your favorite foods and exercise self-discipline. Your healing journey will probably be the most difficult thing you have ever experienced, so stay strong.

My husband James receiving his first immunotherapy infusion in January 2022

As I mentioned above, my husband James was diagnosed with stage IV renal cell carcinoma. The cancer spread to the lungs, but there was more. He had cancerous lesions on his skin. The initial immunotherapy he received in the first three months of 2022 completely cleared his skin but did not help much with kidney cancer. Although the tumor was shrinking at first, it began to grow again after almost one year of treatment. In 2023 James developed pancreatitis and his treatment had to be stopped. Also, his liver enzymes were not optimal. After a few weeks without the medication he felt better so the cancer therapy was resumed only to be terminated again for the same reasons. In addition, a botched dental procedure led to infection that was difficult to manage. 

In October 2023 his oncologist decided that there was nothing else she could do for him. Her statement had a nocebo effect on my husband. He was exhausted and lost all hope. Tragically, he gave up. He did not even consider alternative treatments and was moved to palliative care. James passed away in December 2023, a little more than two years after his first diagnosis. He was 70 years old.

Cancer is a very complex disease. We seem to understand how cancer cells thrive in the body and why, but the gap between the understanding of the disease and curing it seems too wide for so many patients. Cancer cells need glucose in order to survive, but when there is not enough glucose, they thrive on glutamine. They are probably the most adaptive cells in the human body because they can evolve and change how they respond to their environment. They learn to evade the immune system and often become resistant to cancer therapies. 

To starve the cancer cells one would need to stop eating completely and as suggested by Dr. Lodi, patients would need to go on a 40-day, or even longer, water fast. This is a very radical approach that does not come without risks. Water fasting is difficult and should not ever be done without medical supervision. The outcome would probably depend on the patient's constitution, age, affected organs and the damage already done by cancer in the body. Some cancers are detected when it is already too late, and yet, some people go into remission and recover completely. There is always hope but the outcome is always unpredictable. 

Dominique Allmon©2023 

Dr. Lodi's Green Juice Recipe 

Also of interest:   

Foundation For Metabolic Cancer Therapies 

An Oasis of Healing

Nutrition and Cancer  

Prevail Over Cancer Learning Center 

*I am not affiliated with Dr. Lodi or any other organization or institution mentioned here. 

Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease. You must consult your oncologist before including any nutritional supplement, bioactive compound, or herb into your daily routine. Some supplements, herbs and even foods might interact with your medication or can cause allergic reactions. Caution is advised. Consult a skilled nutritionist for proper dosage and timing of nutritional supplement. 

Sugar Addiction And How To Break It

Sugar consumption is on the rise all over the world. This fact has horrendous implications since the metabolic syndrome, obesity, Type 2 diabetes in adults, and alarmingly early onset of Type 2 diabetes in children, are only few consequences of sugar consumption.

Scientists have demonstrated that refined sugar is a highly addictive substance. One study found that the extremely sweet taste can surpass the cocaine reward even in people who are addicted to heavy drugs. In another study scientists demonstrated that quitting sugar can be as difficult for some people as quitting nicotine or alcohol.

Are you addicted to sugar?

Addicts seldom admit that they have a problem and often find justification for their behavior.

• Do you always eat dessert? 
• Do you always have to have something sweet in your house?
• Do you make excuses to take just one more piece of that delicious cake?
• Do you struggle to say no when you are offered something sweet? 
• Do you have sugar "attacks" where you feel you must have something sweet or you will not make it? 

If you eat sweets on regular basis try to give them up for a day or two and see what happens. If you develop headaches and mood swings the chances are that you are addicted.

A few years ago one of my favorite nutritionists, Patrick Holford, devised clever nutritional strategies for people who wished to quit their addictions. 

Quitting any kind of addiction is not an easy process. The withdrawal symptoms are often unbearable and can make it difficult for anyone to give up the stuff he or she is addicted to - be it nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, heavy drugs or even sugar. While drugs or alcohol are considered harmful to our health, sugar addiction is often trivialized, neglected or not even recognized as such. Worse, many people do not even know that sugar is harmful to health. Many do not know that they are addicted.

What is sugar?

Sugar is the generalized term used for sweet, short-chain, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food to sweeten and improve the taste. They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Together with starches and fiber, sugars belong to the class of carbohydrates that are necessary to provide energy and regulate protein and fat metabolism, among others.

All sugars are either monosaccharides (simple sugars) or disaccharides. Simple sugars are easily and quickly digested and utilized by the human body, but there is a difference in the way liver processes glucose and fructose. (This is a vast subject that requires another article.) Disaccharides such as sucrose or the common white table sugar, on the other hand, require enzymes in order to be converted into simple sugars that are then utilized by the body.

Sucrose, which is composed of the monosaccharides fructose and glucose, is found in sugar beets, sugar cane, sorghum, maple syrup, molasses, and pineapple. It is composed of one molecule of fructose and one molecule of glucose and can be metabolized in a healthy body.

Sucrose is used extensively to sweeten food and beverages, but even people who do not add sugar to their diet may be consuming large amounts of so called "hidden" sugar that is added by the food industry into ever growing amount of foods. Salad dressings, mayonnaise, ketchup, peanut butter, baby formula, bread, sausage, luncheon meat, etc. all have sugar added to them.

Addiction to sugar begins very early in life and is constantly reinforced by millions of dollars spent on advertising all over the world by the food industry. Average person living in America consumes more than one hundred fifty pound of sugar per year! It is estimated that only thirty pounds come from sugar that people are consciously adding to their food. The remaining amount comes from industrially produced foods and drinks.

Why should you quit sugar:

• Sugar can make you fat! Sweets and foods with added sugar deliver incredible amount of empty calories and no fiber or nutrients to keep you nourished and satiated. As soon as you had your sweet fix you normally crave for more. You not only eat more calories than you can burn, but sugar promotes belly fat that once there is probably the most difficult to lose.
• Excess sugar consumption has the same toxic effect on liver as does alcohol. In fact, increased sugar consumption had the same detrimental effect on health as the consumption of alcohol and could be responsible for hypertension, myocardial infarction, insulin resistance, obesity, malnutrition, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and pancreatitis.
• Sugar suppresses the release of  the human growth hormone or HGH. Consumption of sugar, especially within two hours after workout, causes hypothalamus to release the inhibitory hormone somatostatin. Somatostatin from the hypothalamus inhibits the pituitary gland’s secretion of the HGH and the thyroid stimulating hormone. 
• Sugar disrupts the immune system. In the 1970s the Noble Prize winner Dr. Linus Pauling discovered that the vitamin C increases the body's ability to fight infections. He also found that sugar inhibits this ability. In order to be able to fight bacteria and viruses, our white blood cells must accumulate vitamin C at the 50-fold concentration all the time. Vitamin C is constantly being moved through the cell membranes into the white blood cells all over your body. Dr. Pauling discovered that glucose, which has similar chemical structure as the vitamin C, can replace vitamin C concentration in the white cells. In fact, when blood sugar rises to 120 after a consumption of cakes, candies or sodas, the ability of white cells to fight infections decreases by about 75%! Moreover, it can take up to six hours to restore optimal levels of vitamin C in the white blood after consumption of sugar. 
• Sugar depletes vital nutrients or interferes with their absorption. Levels of vitamin D, calcium, chromium, and magnesium in the body are affected the the high intake of sugar.
• Sugar can increase risk of cancer. Researchers have found that sugar in the intestine triggers the formation of a hormone called GIP. GIP is controlled by a protein called β-catenin that depends entirely on sugar levels in the body. This in turn, increases insulin released by the pancreas. Researchers found that there is a strong correlation between β-catenin and the cell's susceptibility to cancer formation. Moreover, research also shows that high sugar consumption lowers the survival chance of breast cancer and colon cancer patients.
• Sugar can damage your heart and shorten your life. In 2013 the Journal of American Heart Association has published a study confirming that sugar affects pumping mechanism of the heart and can potentially increase the risk of heart failure. Researchers found that a glucose metabolite called glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) that is derived from sugar and from starch was responsible for the changes in the muscle protein of the heart. These changes could eventually lead to heart failure. 
• Sugar contributes to premature aging. When sugar enters your system it has the tendency to bind to fats and protein molecules in your body. This process is know as glycation. It results in the production of advanced glycation end products known as AGEs. These molecules cause damage to connective tissues and are responsible for chronic inflammation. But AGEs are not only responsible for processes that are "hidden" deep inside our bodies. They also are the cause or visible aging. Collagen and elastin are the proteins in skin that are responsible for the health and youthful appearance. These proteins are also most susceptible to the glycation process. 

It is probably much easier to enumerate reasons for quitting sugar than to quit this sweet addiction. Like many people I have a very sweet tooth and cannot imagine a festive dinner menu without dessert, but I also know too well that sugar is not good for me. It is enough for me to look into a mirror the next day after I satisfied my sugar cravings the night before. The skin looks inflamed and the joints feel stiff. I know that if I continued eating sweets for another day or two things would get even worse. So I quit for a week or two only to get tempted again.

Young people can recover from the sugar binge much faster and may not even gain weight, but with age the damage done by sugar becomes more obvious and almost irreversible. So, how do we quit sugar cravings?

Sugar craving exist on two levels:

• physiological, where it manifests itself as an addiction to sugar, the chemical substance that affect entire body chemistry
• emotional, where it manifests itself either as craving for comfort and happiness, or as a reward for a particular type of behavior.

To successfully quit sugar we must understand and address both, the physiological and the emotional  dependence on sugar.

If you are addicted to sugar you must understand that there is no one-fits-all solution to addiction. Every human being is unique and will power and self-motivation are not always enough. However, everyone can implement a few simple steps that would gradually re-set the addicted brain and re-program body chemistry.

The Break-Sugar-Addiction Program

The plan involves two aspects of our physiology: brain chemistry and blood sugar balance. Deficiency in certain neurotransmitters, especially serotonin, often leads to sugar craving. Fluctuation in blood sugar leads to cravings and energy crashes.

• The very first step to recovery from sugar addiction is a gradual change of diet. Begin your personal program by conscious reduction of sweets and desserts you consume. Sweets and desserts are the obvious, identifiable sugar sources. This would mean that you have to remove sugar and sweet foods from your pantry and change your shopping habits. Stay clear of cookies, candy, cakes and ice cream, and less sugar to your coffee and tea. Going a cold turkey does not work for everybody so you may need to replace your desserts with sweet fruit that at least has vitamins and minerals, and has a form of sugar that can be digested by the body. Try to replace fast food with high quality protein and add fresh vegetable to your menu. At the same time you should supplement your diet with high quality multivitamin and mineral formula. Vitamins and minerals will help you nourish your body and may help reduce  cravings. In addition you should take a high quality Omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics to restore flora in the intestines.
• Removal of sugar from the diet may cause mood swings, low energy, or headaches. To balance the brain chemistry supplement with L-tryptophan and 5-HTP. These two supplements will help the brain to produce the mood enhancing serotonin. To support blood sugar balance take a chromium supplement. Also, add sugar-balancing cinnamon to your diet.
• To control sugar cravings supplement with saffron extracts and amino acid L-glutamine. The suggested dose of L-glutamine supplement is 500mg, 3-4 times a day, best taken on empty stomach about 30 minutes before a meal, or when you feel your blood sugar is very low and you feel like having something sweet. The sugar craving may vanish within minutes and you will not even feel jittery or stressed. 50-100 mg standardized saffron extract will help boost dopamine levels in your brain and decrease carbohydrate cravings.

Many nutritionist suggest that we should consume foods that have low glycemic load, or the GL. The GL tells us how a particular food will affect the blood sugar balance. Foods with high GL will cause sugar spikes and cravings. Foods with low GL convert slowly into glucose and encourage body to burn fat. A low glycemic diet will keep you nourished and satiated and will not only help you break your sugar addiction, but also lose weight.

Depending on your current situation you may need to consult a certified health practitioner who will help you break the sugar addiction. A certified nutritionist will help you create a healthy nutrition plan. He or she will also help you clear candida that may also be the cause of your sugar cravings.

If your craving for sugar is mostly emotional you will need to address the underlying emotional issues. Yoga, relaxation and meditation in combination with supplemental magnesium, L-tryptophan and 5-HTP may help a lot, but you may have to see a therapist to understand why your emotional problems are causing addiction. And if you reward yourself with a large piece of cake, you should probably change your strategy. Try a large bowl of fresh strawberries the next time you feel that you need a reward.

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2017

Post scriptum

 

Many people who wish to break the sugar addiction resort to artificial sweeteners to satisfy their love and craving for the sweet taste. The only artificial sweetener that I would take is stevia. Stevia is made from the leaves of South American plant Stevia rebaudiana. Studies demonstrated that stevia may actually lower blood sugar levels and improve the function of insulin.  

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Green Tips And Two Green Earth Day Recipes

As people gather to collectively celebrate the 47th Earth Day in America and elsewhere, many take time to review their own lifestyle strategies. recycling, reusing, reducing household waste and the use of plastic, chemicals, and ecologically unsustainable products. 

Much has to be done to protect the environment, but instead of waiting for the politicians to change things, each of us can start taking steps in his or her own home, office, school, or town. One of the simplest, but maybe not the easiest, thing we can do is to change the way we eat and obtain food:

• buy organic
• buy locally grown or produced
• buy seasonal
• grow your own
• forage
• make your own food

For many people this might be easier said than done, but lack of time or lack of money are not really good excuses. 

Organic food might be expensive at the first sight, but consider the increased nutrition fresh organic food provides. Less chemicals in your food also means less hazard to your health and possible reduced future health care coasts. Local farmer's markets are full of bargains.

Locally grown, seasonal produce helps reduce your carbon foot print, and once again, provides fruits and vegetable at its peak nutritional value. Many local farmers resorted to organic farming at some point in the past, but cannot afford the incredibly expensive organic certification. Visit such local farm to find out how food is grown or produced. Smaller farmers seem to have a very different set of ethical values than the food industry. Profit, while incredibly important, is not necessarily on top of the list. 

Grow your own! In 2017 a perfectly manicured 1950s American Dream style lawn looks a bit outdated to me. Some communities or residents' associations may not permit you to have a vegetable garden on your property, but you can still grow herbs and vegetables in decorative pots on your porch. Big city dwellers can easily create a container garden on their balconies or terraces. Those who only have a windowsill can at least grow fresh kitchen herbs. If you have never done this before you can take gardening courses. Many master gardeners offer gardening classes for beginners. Once you've got your fingers dirty, you will never want to buy another carrot or tomato. There is nothing more comforting than to see your food grow. 

Foraging is becoming more and more popular. If you do not have much experience with wild herbs, berries or mushrooms, you may have to take a class or attend a foraging workshop. The abundance of wild food is unimaginable, but you have to be very careful as there are herbs, berries and mushrooms that look like the good thing, but are often extremely poisonous. 

Last but not least, make your own food! If you are a working adult with kids and family on your head, this can be difficult. You may not be able to do it during the week, but you can certainly make a ritual out of family cooking on weekends. Weekend is also a good time to prepare some healthy food for the coming week:

• salads in jars, that you can make ahead
• smoothies or smoothie combos that can be made ahead - simply chop the ingredients and freeze them in small portions so that they are ready for blending during the week
• soups can be cooked ahead and frozen, or fresh soup ingredients can be chopped, portioned out and frozen for later use
• stews can be made ahead and frozen
• bread baking on weekend can be a real fun

I hope that these few suggestions will help you get better organized. If you have tomatoes, peppers or herbs growing in your backyard you do not even have to drive to a store to get the salad ingredients.

 ~ Green Sauce Recipe ~

This is a variation of the famous Frankfurt Green Sauce. It can be used as a condiment for roasted meats, cold cuts, steamed, stewed or roasted vegetable, baked potatoes, and egg dishes; as a deep or a salad dressing; and in soups. It has a very green, almost grassy taste and may remind you a bit of the Argentinian chimichurri.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups of mixed garden and wild herbs, roughly chopped (parsley, chives, arugula, sorrel, dandelion greens, ground elder, chervil, Sanguisorba minor or salad burnet, borage, ramsons)
• 2-3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 1 medium large purple onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp grated horse radish root (optional)
• 1/2 cup virgin olive oil 
• 1 cup natural probiotic yogurt
• 1 tsp Celtic sea salt
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Method: 

• In a food processor pulse blend herbs, garlic, onion, and lime juice until they turn into a green coarse paste. Do not over process.
• Add all the remaining ingredients and blend until all is well combined. The sauce should not be too thick. Add more lemon juice or a bit more yogurt to achieve a nice consistency. 
• Adjust the taste to your personal liking and serve with your favorite dish. The stores well in the fridge for two to three days, so it it quickly. It can also be frozen and used in soups.

~ Ground Elder Pesto ~

Ground elder, also known as bishop's weed, is a rather underestimated herb. When it shows up in your garden you will treat it as an unwanted weed, but the more you learn about it, the more you will come to love it. It also grows in the wild and can be foraged, but you must be careful as it resembles the highly poisonous hemlock. Both plants look almost the same when flowering. A simple test will help you distinguish ground elder form other plants: simply take a single leaf and rub it between you fingers. The aroma will remind you of carrots. Best time to forage for leaves is from May till July. This herb has many health benefits. It has a very high content of vitamin C and is good for gout, scurvy, digestion, and piles.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ground elder leaves, packed
• 1/4 cup pistachio nuts, raw or roasted 
• 2 large garlic cloves
• juice of medium large lemon
• grated peel of 1/2 organic, untreated lemon
• 1/4 cup virgin olive oil
• Celtic sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Method:

• In a food processor pulse blend ground elder, garlic, pistachios, lemon peel, and lemon juice. Do not over process. The mixture should be nicely coarse.
• Add olive oil, salt and pepper and whiz again. Serve with pasta dishes, as a dip, soup or salad garnish. If you like cheese you can add crumbled Pecorino  or Parmigiano reggiano cheese, as you normally would if you made a classic basil pesto. 

Both recipes may sound slightly unusual, but if you can get the ingredients, give them a try.

This year Earth Day falls on weekend. Take advantage of it and go on a hiking trip, ride your bike, start a garden, or meet friends and family over a healthy, home made meal. Reach out to your community and see if there is anything you could do collectively to reduce your carbon foot print. The climate change may be real or perceived, but the environmental pollution is not. Many things must be done so that the generations to come can enjoy the beauty of our planet.

~ Happy Earth Day 2017 ~

By Dominique Allmon

 
Dominique Allmon©2017

Happy World Health Day!

Just like keeping a healthy diet is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right foods is just as important for getting the most out of your workout. - Marcus Samuelsson 

By now, most of the New Year's resolutions are long forgotten, or fading from view. If you are like many adults who would rather take care of their cars or patios, you probably should take a moment and reflect a bit on true meaning of life and the necessity of healthy lifestyle.

Statistics tell us that people live longer than ever. Unfortunately, many of those who live longer are not necessarily healthy and the quality of their lives is often questionable. Life is not fun if you are bedridden and in pain.

Biological aging begins as early as 30s. By the time most people reach their late 50s, they suffer from degenerative chronic diseases that developed over the years of self neglect. It is possible, however, to reverse premature aging and to heal chronic ailments, and one does not even need drugs.

Healthy nutrition, exercise, stress control, and positive outlook on life can do magic in no time. One simply has to follow these basic precepts religiously.

Easier said than done? The choice is yours, no doubt, but if you do not have the motivation to save your own life, no one can help you, now or later.

Do not wait until it is too late. Embrace healthier lifestyle today.

Wishing everybody happy and healthy World health Day - in radiant health - Dominique
 

Dominique Allmon©2017

Image: Rainbow Chard by Dominique Allmon©2017


*All health related statements in this article are made for educational purposes only. They are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.

The Antioxidant Power of Spirulina

Spirulina* is a green food supplement made of single-celled blue-green algae from the genus Anthrospira that floats freely in highly alkaline waters. Two species of the algae are used to produce spirulina supplements: the Anthrospira platensis and the Anthrospira maxima. The algae are believed to be one of the oldest organisms on our planet. The species used to produce nutritional supplement spirulina are cultivated all over the world in specially designed water farms.

Nutrients

The blue-green algae has been valued as a food source for a very long time. Aztecs discovered its nutritional properties and used it as their staple food. It was also consumed by the Mayas and the Olmecs.

• The blue-green algae is probably the most concentrated source of nutrition. It is the best source of complete protein. It contains 18 amino acids including lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, and methionine.
• It is rich in vitamins, especially of the B group including B12. This makes the spirulina supplements perfect food for vegans whose diet normally does not include sufficient amount of the vital vitamin B12. Some research suggests, however, that the vitamin B12 in spirulina is an analog form of vitamin B12 which is not easily absorbed by the human organism.
• The high chlorophyll content makes it a perfect plant source of bio-available chlorophyll for the human body. Chlorophyll which has a similar structure to human hemoglobin, carries oxygen which enriches our blood, helps to normalize digestion and to keep our intestines healthy.
• The blue-green algae is rich source of minerals. Among others it contains zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, and selenium. The algae is very high in calcium and iron. Unlike other supplement sources, the iron in spirulina is easily absorbed by the human body. Spirulina is low in sodium and iodine.
• The blue-green algae is high in GLA or gamma linolenic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid used by the body to fight allergies, decrease inflammation, and prevent skin damage, among others.
• One of the characteristics of this algae is its high content of carotenoids, especially beta carotene. In fact, its beta caroten content is ten times higher than that of carrots. 10 grams of spirulina provide 23,000 IU of beta carotene which is 460% of the RDA recommendation. It also contains astaxanthin, fucoxantin, and zeaxantin. The total content of mixed carotenoids is about 0.37 per cent.
• The blue-green algae contains very high levels of SOD, or superoxide dismutase enzyme. SOD has a remarkable ability to fight free radicals and to retard aging.
• The algae also contains only 15 to 25 percent of carbohydrates. Two main polysaccharides, glycogen and rhamnose, are easily absorbed by the body and do not cause insulin spikes. 

Spirulina as an antioxidant 

An ongoing research is being conducted all over the world. Spirulina may be the best antioxidant available to us. It is a highly complex superfood. Its high content of mixed carotenoids and the SOD enzyme, as well as selenium, makes spirulina a valuable antioxidant supplement. Spirulina also contains vitamin C and vitamin E which are both known for their antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of these nutrients is well researched. They work in synergy and seem to be most effective when acting together. In spirulina they all come in a natural proportion and are not synthetically manufactured to compose an antioxidant formula.

Like beta carotene and selenium, SOD effectively decreases the generation of free radicals in the body and reduces oxidative stress. It fights the superoxide, which is the most ubiquitous and aggressive free radical in the body.

Researchers also found that the algae contains the water soluble phycocyanin, a pigment that gives it its blue hue. Phycocynin is considered to be a free radical scavenger that protects liver and the kidneys from the oxidative damage. Phycocynin is also a powerful immune system modulator and is believed to alleviate the damage caused by radiation. The Russians successfully used spirulina to treat the victims of post-Chernobyl radiation.

Health benefits of spirulina

High nutrient content makes spirulina a superfood supplement. Although there are some conflicting findings, spirulina is generally believed to :

• help control weight
• improve digestion
• detoxify the body
• build muscles
• reduce inflammation
• reduce cholesterol
• enhance immune system
• inhibit viral replication in the body
• lower the risk of certain cancers
• inhibit growth of tumors in the body
• help digestion
• improve the skin
• assist with the PMS
• alleviate malnutrition

Daily dosage 

The suggested dosage is 500mg three to four times daily. Total daily dose of spirulina should not exceed 5,000 mg. Spirulina comes in the form of tablets, capsules, or a powder that can be mixed with juice or water, or added into smoothies. Spirulina has a very strong detoxifying effect and may cause Herxeimer reaction* in the body. It is sensible to begin supplementation with a small dose and increase the dosage gradually over a period of few days.

A caution is advised while buying spirulina supplements. Always consider buying spirulina from a certified, organic source as spirulina is subject to contamination. Because some allergic reactions have been observed, consult your health care provider before commencing supplementation. Discontinue use if condition worsens.

By Dominique Teng

Dominique Teng©2016

* The Anthrospira species of algae were once classified in the genus Spirulina hence the resulting confusion between the name of a nutritional supplement and the name of a species. Spirulina species belong to a genus of the Cyanobacteria in the Kingdom of Bacteria. In the older literature we still find the terms Spirulina platensis and spirulina maxima.

* Herxheimer reaction occurs in the body when a large amount of toxins flood the body as a result of a rapid detoxification.

 

Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.