What?! Is hemp really that good? Hmmm.
Ok, come on and admit it. When you hear the word HEMP immediately you translate that to MARIJUANA and then depending on who you are, you may either smile or scoff. So let us be clear: there are different plants in the cannabis family, and the one I want to talk about contains no THC…yeah, that’s the thing which causes the “happy feeling”. This week we are talking about hemp seed, one of nature’s perfect high protein foods. But first, let me get us all up to speed on the plant.
Hemp is one of the many names for the cannabis plant. Traditionally, this plant may have alternative uses, however, more recently it has also seen industrial success for uses in paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, and fuel. It has also enjoyed success in the health food industry.
Hemp seed is a wonder high protein food from nature, being a very rare complete source of protein. The seeds of this plant contain up to 36% protein. The type of protein found in hemp is approximately 65% Edestin, which aids in digestion. This form of protein is low in phosphorous and is considered the backbone of human cellular DNA.
Another one-third of hemp seed protein is albumin, another high-quality protein similar to the one found in egg whites. The types and combination of protein found in hemp seed is readily available in a form very similar to the one found in blood plasma. Proteins are considered to be complete when they contain all 9 essential amino-acids in a sufficient quantity and ratio to meet the body’s protein requirements. Hemp protein contains all 20 known amino-acids, including 8 essential and 2 semi-essential forms which the body cannot produce on its own.
Hemp seed oil may possibly be one of the most perfectly balanced oil, as it contains an ideal 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 for long-term use, and also provides an additional Omega-6 derivative known as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).
This powerful seed is also an excellent source of calcium and iron. Whole hemp seeds are also a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese – all important minerals playing roles in proper human nutrition.
Two final interesting facts about hemp seed are that:
1) It is gluten-free, and consequently will not trigger symptoms of Celiac disease;
2) Its protein is free of oligosaccharides found in soy, which can cause stomach upset and gas.
As you look more closely at this plant and learn not only its uses and benefits, but dig deeper into its history, if you are like me, your eyes will be opened and you will want to know more. Here is a video which I would like to share with you, answering the question, “Why hemp?”:
If you are interested in getting in touch to learn more, please feel free to contact Mark Ensley. He is a passionate, professional on a mission to spread the good word about hemp.
As always, good vibes your way!
Warm regards,
Monique
August 1 – 7, 2011
Berry, berry good Blueberries!
Blueberries are flowering plants related to cranberries and bilberries, that are perennials producing dark-blue berries. The genus of this plant known as vaccinium, has a distribution of several species in the northern hemisphere in North America, Europe and Asia, however, is now also commercially grown in Australia, New Zealand and South American countries.
Blueberries may be cultivated or enjoyed from wild or semi-wild bushes. They are usually sold fresh or processed as individually quick frozen fruit, puree or juice. It is often enjoyed in jams, jellies, baked goods and cereals. They possess a wide range of micronutrients, with notably high levels of dietary mineral manganese, vitamins B6, C and K, as well as, dietary fibre. It is also interesting to note, that one serving of blueberries has a very low glycemic load score, which is great news for people watching their weight, and persons with conditions such as Celiac disease.
Researchers have also uncovered the positive effect which blueberries have on controlling disease, including inhibiting the mechanisms of cancer cell development and inflammation. They have also been proven to be beneficial to sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease, and research at Rutger’s University has shown blueberries to help prevent urinary tract infections.
Here is a video that will help to share more about the goodness inside blueberries:
As always, good vibes your way!
Warm regards,
Monique
July 25 – 31, 2011
What is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil or melaleuca oil is an essential oil with a very pale yellow to almost clear colour with a fresh camphor-like odor. It is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales in Australia.
It is to be noted, tea tree oil is not to be ingested, as it can be toxic if swallowed, and also a small percentage of people experience an allergic reaction when they physically come in contact with tea tree oil. Yet still, this natural oil has wonderful health benefits that many have enjoyed, which are derived from its antiseptic, anitfungal, antiviral and antibacterial qualities.
A 2008 study by the Medical and Veterinary Entomology branch of the Royal Entomological Society, of in vitro toxicity reported a tea tree oil preparation was more effective against head lice than permethrin, a popular pharmaceutical remedy. Another study by the Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in New South Wales, showed that 5% tea tree oil was more effective in the treatment of acne than 5% benzoyl peroxide, albeit with a slower result time. And yet still, another study reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology on the antifungal properties of tea tree oil revealed that 5% tea tree oil is effective in treating dandruff due to its ability to treat the most common cause of the condition (Malassezia furfur).
Here is a brief video by health & nutrition expert, Isabelle Simon, speaking on the health benefits of tea tree oil in her own words, I hope you will enjoy!
As always, good vibes your way!
Warm regards,
Monique
July 18 – 24, 2011
How clean is your shampoo?
One of these ingredients is: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate or SLS. This is a harsh ingredient used in many store brands. It is a surfactant added to lower the surface tension of water on your hair, so that oil and dirt can be picked up the hair. It also creates a lathering effect – i.e. suds – when in fact, those bubbles do not play a significant role in actually getting your hair clean. Unfortunately, due to years of being influenced by advertising has most of us believing otherwise (damn you TV!). That being said, the suds do aid in a visual inspection of whether or not our hair is clean – white suds your hair is clean, dark suds…not so much. A better alternative that is used to do the same job is any variation of Sodium Lauryl Methyl Isethionate (or Ammonium Cocyl Isothionate). With this alternative, there is less risk of skin irritation for persons with sensitve scalps, revealed by flaking and itchiness.
So what’s a girl supposed to do? Open your eyes to new options. Some of your best selections are still well-kept secrets. Hot on the top of that list is the new Green Tea Goji Berry Pure & Natural haircare system by Tea & Honey Blends.
The Green Tea Goji Berry Pure & Natural Shampoo gently cleanses your tresses with super antioxidant rich ingredients that protect your hair from the sun and environmental free radical damage. Lycium barbarum, more commonly known as Goji Berry (or wolfberry) is a woody perennial plant that grows small red berries which are rich in beta-carotene that increase hair follicle strength and promotes growth. While Green Tea, another powerful antioxidant known to protect us from free radical damage, is also combined in this soothing, rich formula to help maintain healthy shiny hair.
Other systems that I highly recommend are from Wen Hair Care, and the 2nd Chance Shampoo & Conditioner by Neways.
When you make a conscious decision to use more pure and natural products as a part of your regular hair care regimen, you will finally be able to achieve a hair care experience that you can feel good about – inside & out!
July 11 – 17, 2011
Natural Support for Women
Every year 1.5 million women in North America – nearly 5,000 every day – reach menopause and begin to deal with the uncomfortable symptoms of reaching this milestone. However, the catch is that it is really never too early to start to prepare your body to lower the stress that comes with entering this territory.
There are three natural ingredients that directly help to address the concerns of menopausal symptoms: soy, dong quai, and black cohosh.
Not everyone will experience the same symptoms and endure them for the same length of time. In the USA, 65% – 80% of women entering menopause will experience the notorious hot flash (or night sweat). This is when an intense feeling of heat accompanied by rapid, accelerating heartbeat, and excessive perspiration on the head and body occur. The feeling of which can last anywhere from 2 – 20 minutes. When left and not addressed, these symptoms can recur for up to 10 years after the last menstrual period. Additionally, there are many other symptoms that are experienced in different ways.
Natural soy bean extract helps to relieve hot flashes and more. In Japan, where the consumption of soy is high, there simply is no translation for “hot flash”. One study found that only 9% of Asian women in comparison to 55% of American women complain about menopausal symptoms.
Dong quai is a tall plant with celery-like leaves and white-green flowers, the extract of which has long been used for menopausal symptoms and other menstrual related concerns.
Black cohosh is derived from the roots of a low-growing forest plant, and has been found to contain several compounds that bind to estrogen receptors, relieving premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cramps and menopause.
The therapeutic formula of all three of these natural ingredients is nature’s answer for the symptoms of menopause.
As always, good vibes your way!
Monique
July 4 – 10, 2011
Burn your fat first!
Over 60% of North Americans are overweight. When we carry excess weight it can lead to common health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and osteoarthritis.
Our bodies are full of potential energy. One pound of fat is equivalent to over 3500 calories that can supply your body’s energy needs for over 4 hours of strenuous activity. The amount of energy in one pound of fat contains enough energy to allow you to run 38 miles or walk more than 55 miles without stopping to eat.
The problem is that a lot of us are not just carrying around one extra pound of fat, and so we resort to exercising to get rid of the excess. However, when we exert energy our body first uses stored glucose (sugars) on our body and then with longer activity starts using free fatty acids stored in your fat cells. Most of us would probably prefer knowing that we are using up the excess fat immediately when we go for a walk or use the stairs, but unfortunately that is not how our bodies work. It must first convert the fat into more user friendly fatty acids which is a complicated conversion, part of a chain reaction which takes place in your body.
A major wrench that is thrown into the whole process is something called adenosine. Naturally occuring in the body, adenosine essentially shuts down our body’s ability to keep going and exercise effectively. Why? Centuries ago when primitive man continually fought to find food and was not guaranteed 3 (or more) meals a day, adenosine served as a valuable regulator to help prevent wasted energy. It caused fatigue to ensure energy was conserved. Its purpose was to enure that all of the fat reserves were not burned up and available for use in periods of food shortages.
Considering that we now have supermarkets and mega-supermarkets things have changed. And thankfully, in today’s fast food world, there is patented food technology designed to minimise the effectiveness of adenosine and thereby inhibit its effectiveness in preserving fat stores. In other words, the technology helps you to burn your fat more quickly, saving you time and helping you to achieve a more successful workout. Simply put, it helps you to:
– burn more fat
– boost your energy levels
– minimize fatigue
– reduce lactic acid buildup
– increase muscle fibre recruitment
…all in direction of providing you with a more efficient workout!
Wouldn’t you like to know that you are working out more effectively?
If you are interested to learn more…ask me now.
As always, good vibes your way!
Monique
June 27 – July 3, 2011
How to Naturally Boost your Immune System
Many persons occasionally suffer with colds throughout the year, specifically during the flu season when there are so many sufferers all around. Some people wait to treat the symptoms of a cold, however, there are some that choose to occasionally maintain their immune systems instead.
Enter stage right: Echinacea.
Echinacea (also known as Purple Clone flower) is an herb of which there are nine species. The most effective medicinal properties of this plant are known to be extracted from the root, the benefits of which include:
– treatment of colds, cough and flu
– enlarged lymph glands, sore throat
– urinary tract infections
– other minor infections
– wounds, skin regeneration & skin infections (external use)
– psoriasis, eczema and inflammatory skin conditions (external use)
I would like to share with you a short video clip to help you understand the benefits of fighting colds with this wonder herb:
June 20 – 26, 2011
Natural Defence Against Disease: Grapeseed Extract
Free radicals destroy cells in the body which eventually cause disease. The levels of these free radicals are increased in our bodies by various external factors including:
– Pollution
– Preservatives
– Smoking
– Drugs
– Stress
– Radiation
– Pesticides
– Lack of sleep
Our bodies are constantly under attack by free radicals. This is why you will hear people talking about anti-oxidants. These help to neutralize unstable molecules by balancing the free radicals. One of nature’s most powerful antioxidants is Grapeseed Extract. This is as the name suggests, an extract from the seeds of grapes. A compound in grape seeds known as Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OGCs) help to strengthen and protect our cell membranes from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
Some of the benefits of grapeseed extract include:
– Normalizing immune response
– Lowering blood pressure
– Inhibiting carbohydrate absorption
– Reducing pain and improving physical function of arthritic joints
– Increasing skin elasticity, i.e. younger looking skin
– Helps to protect against UV rays damage of the cells and photo-aging
– Has an anti-inflammatory potency
– Natural antihistamine and is hypoallergenic
Please find below two videos which are helpful in understanding the power of grapeseed extract:
June 13 – 19, 2011
Constant body pollution
This week I have decided to share with you a video clip that was sent to me recently. It is a brief presentation speaking on the numerous ways in which we maintain and increase our toxicity exposure in our living environment.
June 6 – 12, 2011
Get to know your plastics
Plastics have become a part of our daily lives, however, how many of us have taken the time to really learn about plastics? A good place to start is knowing your plastic numbers. Have you ever looked at the little recycling triangle found somewhere on the bottom or side of your plastic bottles? Well, inside that triangle you should find a number. The plastic numbers to avoid are 3, 6, 7.
The safety concerns of plastic bottles were investigated on the Today Show on NBC.
May 30 – June 5, 2011
What the heck are phthalates?
These are chemical structures (substances) mainly used to manipulate plastics for increased flexibility, transparency, durability and longevity. They are also found in common consumer goods to increase shelf-life among other uses.
However, there have been many health concerns linked to the use of phthalates and at present, are being phased out of products in the United States, Canada, and the European Union over these very concerns.
May 23 – 29, 2011
Chasing the Cancer Answer
On CBC Marketplace, reporters are investigating the root of all of these environmental cancer-causing sources. If you are care about your family`s health, then I invite you to not only watch the video clip below, but to get active! Do your own due diligence, and then make informed decisions when making your consumer purchases. Do not wait to be a statistic.
Do you know how toxins enter the body?
Toxins enter our bodies by inhalation, absorption, and ingestion. It is important for us to protect ourselves against all three.
Here are some reasons why we should all seek to use safer products in our homes:
– The Consumer Product Safety Commission report that 150 chemicals in the home are linked to allergies, birth defects and cancer
– In 1985, the Environmental Protection Agency has reported that toxic chemicals in the home are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution
– Asthma rates have tripled in the last 20 years with related deaths in children and young people increased by 118% between 1980 and 1993
You owe it to yourself and those you love to learn more. The question is: are you creating a toxic home?
May 9 – 15, 2011
10 of the best tips to quit smoking!
Most of us already know all of the reasons to stop smoking including: lung cancer, emphysema, high blood pressure, stroke, and on and on. Sometimes in life it is just better to focus on the positive instead of all the negative.
This week, let us think about 10 of the best tips to help you or someone you know stop smoking:
– Have a strong “why”. Knowing exactly why you want to stop smoking is half of the battle!– Try nicotine-replacement strategies to help let yourself down easy
– Get a “buddy” somebody else who also wants to quit to keep each other motivated
– Manage stress properly…sometimes this is the reason why you first started
– Stay away from alcohol and other lead-ins to smoking
– Get rid of the evidence! Clean house and throw away lighters, ash tray etc.
– Do not feel badly if you have a relapse, this is common. Just try again. 🙂
– Replace your smoking time with another activity
– Eat healthy while quitting. Don’t worry about weight. Your body will balance itself naturally
– Treat yourself to something special to celebrate when you reach milestones
You owe it to yourself to return to a healthy you. Your body will thank you!
May 2 – 8, 2011
Is it time to change doctors?
For most of us, once we find a doctor that we trust and feel comfortable with, we would never dream of ending the relationship with them and moving on to another healthcare provider. But the unfortunate reality is that sometimes both you and your doctor may become so used to each other, that the primary reason for your visits get skewed. If communication has broken down, and you feel that you or your loved ones are not getting what you need, it may be time to switch.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
– Does your doctor blame, ignore or criticize you or the person in your care?
– Does your doctor properly respond to your feedback?
– Does your doctor become defensive or unpleasant?
– Does it seem that your pains and complaints are not being taken seriously enough?
– Do you find out about treatments that may help you which your doctor has not mentioned?
– Are test results and examinations not clearly explained to you?
It can be a hard decision to change doctors, but it is one that can return a sense of trust in your healthcare.
April 25 – May 1, 2011
Is there enough Vitamin D in your diet?
The sunlight vitamin – Vitamin D – is one the most overlooked vitamins. Each year more studies show the benefits of this vitamin, yet it a lot of people still continue to ignore the message. Here is a brief list of health benefits of vitamin D:
– It boosts your immune system
– Protects you against 16 forms of cancer including colon and breast cancer
– Protects you from stroke and heart attack
– It helps to protect your bones from fracture
When supplementing your diet with vitamin D, the threat of taking too much is very low. It has no known side effects, and one would have to take enormous amounts of it before your blood levels would rise too high. Additionally, as we age our bodies become less efficient at processing vitamin D from the sun, and it then becomes more relevant to take this supplement.
April 18 – 24, 2011
Are you getting sufficient rest?
Rest is one of the most important things your body needs. During sleep, your body is able to refresh and renew itself for another day of activities. It is absolutely necessary for long-term health and regeneration. Here are some quick tips for getting adequate sleep:
– Use your bedroom for sleeping and not work; create a space for relaxation and not stress
– Practise tailored bedtime rituals to indicate to your body it is time to unwind, e.g. soft music
– Unwind before going to bed to start relaxation, e.g. warm bath
– Avoid stimulating activity, e.g. thriller movie
– Get out of bed if you cannot sleep and distract your mind with other relaxing activity until ready
