Top 10 Antioxidants

If you're looking to supplement your diet with serious antioxidant power, here's a must-have list. Sometimes antioxidants are measured by their ORAC score. While it's something to consider, different anti-oxidants do different things. I'm also not saying forget the rest (like vitamin C or beta-carotene). Simply put, if your health goal is to reach optimum health, you'll want to add these to your regimen. Without further adieu, here's the list ...

1) Glutathione (GSH) - this is known as our body's master antioxidant. It can quench the worst of free radicals, detoxify, and help clear bacteria among other things. Many other antioxidants we take in combine with nutrients to form GSH inside our bodies (acting as pre-cursors). However, our bodies produce less glutathione as we age. To increase our levels of GSH, NAC is 1 of the best pre-cursors. GSH levels can also be increased through injections or homeopathic means.

2) Resveratrol - to understand the significance of this antioxidant, I'll explain something known as the French Paradox. The French have a deep connection with food. The dishes are savory, albeit full of saturated fat. As unhealthy as their diet is, why is it that the French are still able to live as long as they do? The answer lies in red grapes. When concentrated into wine or a supplement, you get something that is rich in resveratrol, polyphenols, and other nutrients. In addition to its cardiovascular benefits, it is known to have a positive epigenetic effect on the SIRT-1 gene which increases longevity.

3) Astaxanthin - this is 1 of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature. It protects your brain and skin from the signs of aging (even reducing gray hair), improves eye health, and can also improve physical endurance. This is above and beyond its potent free radical scavenging abilities. Next to omega-3's, Astaxanthin has had the most noticeable effect on my personal health.

4) Vitamin D - those brainy researchers at Harvard have made a startling discovery. What they found is that people living above 37 degrees latitude are getting much less sun exposure - particularly in the winter time. And it's that fact which makes them more susceptible to winter colds, cancer, osteoporosis, and general malaise.The RDA is set at 400 IU's, but that is much too low for optimal health. You should be taking closer to 4,000 IU's and even more for seniors. The D3 form is the best form to take.

5) Omega-3 - it's considered an essential fatty acid and is highly touted for its effect on cardiovascular health, skin health, brain function, and reducing inflammation. Key scientific studies that exemplify its benefits looked at the health and diet of Norwegians during World War II. There was a marked reduction in coronary heart disease and corresponding mortality rates. EPA and DHA are the most beneficial compounds in omega-3's. Both can be found in seafood such as salmon, tuna, and sardines.

6) Green/White Tea - there is a long history for cultivation of tea leaves, but green and white tea stand out for their health benefits. They are really 1 and the same leaf, except white tea is made from younger leaves. It is also higher in antioxidants. The primary compounds in tea include EGCG and catechins. It produces a very long list of health benefits which include anti-cancer, increased immunity, mental alertness, increased metabolism, cardiovascular function, and more.

7) L-arginine - this amino acid is the subject of research that led to a Nobel Prize in 1998 and more recently brought to the forefront by Dr. Oz. L-arginine is a pre-cursor to nitric oxide - or NO. When combined with L-citrulline, another amino acid, it can exert a strong effect on the vascular and circulatory systems. NO also improves athletic performance and alleviates sexual dysfunction. Our body's production of NO declines with age, and maintaining  healthy levels is key to longevity.

8) Melatonin - this hormone promotes sleep and does a lot to repair the body. In fact if you're not feeling well, you may find yourself naturally sleeping longer hours which increases recovery. Aside from antioxidant activity, Melatonin is known to fight cancer and reduce hypertension. It's a great reason to get 8 hours of sleep in. Unfortunately our melatonin levels fall with age. If you experience restlessness at night, you might consider supplementation. Melatonin is also found in small amounts in red wine.

9) Probiotics - it's been said that digestive health is 80% of your immunity. Reason being, our bodies fight many food-borne bacteria and carcinogens. For example, alcohol and unhealthy food are some things which disturb the balance of healthy bacteria in our digestive system. Probiotics promote the growth of healthy bacteria, improve immunity, and promote a regular bowel movement. While yogurt is a source of probiotics, you can find supplements that provide much better probiotic support.

10) Dark chocolate - yes, healthy CAN taste good! Chocolate is chock full of antioxidants and flavanoids. For health purposes, select the higher quality chocolate bars with minimum 60% cocoa content. It only takes a few bites to get the benefits. Eating a full bar probably diminishes the benefits due to sugar content.

Diabetes ... 1 out of 3 at risk!

Type 2 Diabetes is a disease that's becoming more of an epidemic. According to the American Diabetes Association, it's estimated that as of 2011 over 25 million of the U.S. population are diabetic. Another 79 million are in the prediabetes stage. Those numbers are staggering; that means 1 out of 3 of us will develop diabetes in our lifetime. True, we have power over these statistics. We can pass that piece of cake to our least favorite co-worker so they're the 3rd person who gets it. Let's see if they wizen up also.

Type 2 diabetes is not hereditary. If your parents have it, you may get it too if family meals involve an inherited recipe for chicken fried steak from grandma. To be clear, diabetes is a disease of lifestyle. You won't develop diabetes if you're exercising and eating right. Something such as staying in the sun too long is easier to grasp, because it has immediate consequences ... you will get a sunburn. But it's difficult for us to visualize how eating that cake or deep fried butter will take 2.7 days off your lifespan - adding up over time and leading to a shortened and debilitating life as a senior citizen. Speaking of deep fried butter, celebrity chef Paula Deen is in the news because that's her recipe. She has come out publicly to say she developed diabetes (and has been for several years now, but us knowing that would be bad for business). Most had to see that coming, but is nevertheless tragic and 100% avoidable. She was also quoted as saying she would not change how she cooks. Sure, it can be tough to summon the willpower to eat healthy most of the time. However I personally don't see a lot of appeal to eating her doughnut burger. Is it just me???

And if you already have diabetes, guess what - it's reversible! ... IF you can commit to a strict healthy lifestyle. My own retired mother was diagnosed with diabetes. That really was rock bottom for her. She was frustrated with her symptoms, and it had an effect on the whole family. But I worked with her to change a few basic things. She has seen many improvements including glucose levels in the healthy range. The plan was simple. Vegetables, not rice and potatoes. Baked fish, not bacon. Natural supplements, not prescription medications (under doctor's supervision). Daily aerobics, not bingo. You get the point. And yes, she still enjoys her life. There's a lot to experience out there, and it's about finding enjoyable foods and activities to replace those that are detrimental to your health. As much as possible try to stick to lean meats, healthy fats especially omega-3's, lots of veggies, some fruits, and limited grains. I prefer to get calcium from veggies, meats, and a small dose via supplementation. But if you must have dairy, keep it limited. Don't believe me? Burt Baskin (owner of Baskin-Robbins) was just as stubborn as Paula Deen with his ice cream. He died at the age of 54.

Being overweight, advanced age, and sedentary lifestyle are some of the things that increase your chances for developing diabetes. Be familiar with the risk factors, and see your doctor if you suspect you might be at risk. A simple blood test every few years can shed great insight on your health. If you hate needles, imagine being diabetic and having to check your blood daily for the rest of your life.

Look at every healthy meal, every workout, as a personal victory for you and your body. We already have that inner strength ... we put Hostess Twinkies out of business!

EMF Radiation in the Household

First, Happy New Year to all my Beyond Organic readers! Back in March of 2010, I published a blog about cell phone radiation. Figured I'd ring in the new year with a follow-up to that post ... except this time, with a review to include other common household items and armed with a gaussmeter - a specialized device that allows you to take actual measurements of EMF emissions. Some of this will surprise you. For purposes of this test, the "Danger Zone" is set at 3 milligauss or mG (where prolonged exposure can cause diseases such as leukemia) and "Exceeds Scale" is anything over 100 mG.

The tests performed validate others' findings with smart phones. While EMF was expected, it was somewhat surprising just how much EMF is produced by laptops. It gives credence to the recommendation not to rest it on your lap. Using a docking station will keep you a safe distance from the base unit. The old CRT TV's are believed to be high in radiation. As you can see below, LCD TV's are manageable. The results show it's also best to keep your distance from microwaves, blenders, electrical boxes, and ... believe it or not ... alarm clocks. I'll be the first to admit I like to slap the snooze button and doze off to sleep again. But it's worth setting it across the room.

Some other items that were not tested but can be expected to produce high EMF emissions include motorized equipment, electrical appliances, inside airplane cabins, near floorboard of cars, power lines, and electrical blankets. Some sources are seemingly unavoidable. But the more you can reduce your constant exposure, the better your health!

And without further adieu ...

- Smart phones
Not detected: <1 in
Danger Zone: on contact
Max: >5 mG on contact and in use; med to high spikes on establishing call

- Laptop computer
Not detected: 1 ft
Danger Zone: 2 in
Max: >100 mG on contact

- AC wall adapters
Not detected: 2 ft
Danger Zone: 1 ft
Max: >100 mG at 6 in

- 42" flat screen LCD TV
Not detected: 1 ft
Danger Zone: 3 in
Max: 8 mG on contact

- Microwave
Not detected: 1.5 ft
Danger Zone: 6 in (not in use)
Max: >100 mG at 2.5 ft

- Blender
Not detected: 5 ft
Danger Zone: 3 ft
Max: >100 mG at 2 ft

- Electrical box
Not detected: 9 ft
Danger Zone: 3.5 ft
Max: >100 mG at 1 ft

- Alarm clock
Not detected: 1 ft
Danger Zone: 9 in
Max: >100 mG at 3 in