Vaccines are Safe and Effective and Prevent Disease

One of the primary problems with vaccines in general is their detrimental impact on your body’s primary, natural defense against ALL disease. Vaccines can over-stimulate your child’s immune system, sometimes causing the very disease it’s designed to protect against, or worse. And, when several vaccines are administered together, or in close succession, their interaction may completely overwhelm your child’s developing immune system.

Fluoride in Your Water Lowers Your Risk of Cavities

There is practically no difference in tooth decay between fluoridated and non-fluoridated countries, and no difference between states that have a high- or low percentage of their water fluoridated. Meanwhile, fluoride can cause significant harm, from dental fluorosis to thyroid damage to reduced IQ… and much more.

GMOs Crops are Safe, Well Tested and Economically Beneficial

GMOs may be the greatest health disaster in the American diet. Millions may already be suffering health problems caused by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their diet. Many studies that show GMOs cause disorders such as vital organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system problems, accelerated aging, infertility, and dysfunctional regulation of insulin and cholesterol.

Sun Causes Skin Cancer

Appropriate sun exposure actually helps prevent skin cancer. Melanoma occurrence has been found to decrease with greater sun exposure, and can be increased by sunscreens. Vitamin D formed in your skin from exposure to sunlight provides built in cancer protection. Instead, sun avoidance and the excessive use of sun screen are actually the two primary reasons for the rise in melanoma.

Artificial Sweeteners are Safe, Well Tested and Help Promote Weight Loss

Studies that have carefully analyzed their effectiveness show that those who use artificial sweeteners actually gain more weight than those who consume caloric sweeteners. There are also a large number of health dangers associated with artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, saccharin, and aspartame, known as Splenda, Sweet & Low and Equal, served on the tables of almost every restaurant in the country.

Soy is a Health Food

Unfermented soy products are NOT healthful additions to your diet. On the contrary, thousands of studies have linked unfermented soy to malnutrition, digestive distress, immune-system breakdown, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders and infertility—even cancer and heart disease. Not only that, but more than 90 percent of American soy crops are genetically modified, which carries its own set of health risks.

Whole Grains are Good for Everyone

ALL grains, including whole-grain and organic varieties, can elevate your insulin levels, which can increase your risk of disease, such as Obesity, Diabetes, High blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Many people face gluten intolerance also. You should eliminate grains and sugars from your diet, especially if you have any of the above conditions. Eat as your ancestors ate: toxin free meat, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.

Milk Does Your Body Good.

Don’t drink pasteurized milk of any kind, including organic, because once milk has been pasteurized its physical structure is changed in a way that can actually cause allergies and immune problems. Milk contains pituitary hormones, steroid hormones, thyroid and parathyroid hormones, gastrointestinal peptides, growth factors, growth inhibitors, fat, cholesterol, allergenic proteins, blood, pus, antibiotics, bacteria and viruses. It doesn’t even build strong bones!

From www.mercola.com

RICO’S COMMENTS: Everyone of these myths are spread by propaganda from agencies, corporations and medical associations to do two things…….. make money on the misinformation they are spreading around the country, and to make us sicker so they can make money off of us.  Most people I talk to are ignorant of many of the above myths and think they are being healthy by following this false information. You always have to get your information from unbiased sources that will not make any money from what they tell you. Do your homework. If you correct all of the above myths you will be well on your way to optimal health.

Chronic diseases—such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes—are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the U.S., which is 1.7 million each year.

Think about this—7 out of every 10 deaths!!!!!

These diseases also cause major limitations in daily living for almost 1 out of 10 Americans or about 25 million people. Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of these diseases.

If everyone exercised regularly, ate a balanced diet and didn’t smoke and drank alcohol in moderation we could virtually wipe out most of these deaths resulting from chronic disease!

Somehow we feel bullet proof or we just don’t give a damn or don’t until we experience a stroke, heart attack or get diabetes. I still, for the life of me, can’t figure out our ignorance and “blind eye” attitude about our health and our everyday practices that will eventually lead us to bad health and a miserable life. Just what don’t you get people??? This is what will happen to each one of you if you live a sedentary lifestyle and eat like crap—tons of sugar, salt, and saturated fat.

Tim Russert, national TV journalist dropped dead of cardiovascular disease a few weeks ago. He was 58 and had no prior history of bad health. That is the exact way it happens….you just drop dead, JUST LIKE THAT! Chances are you won’t even get a warning. You will be here one day and gone the next. This article is meant to scare you! To make you sit up and realize the path you’re headed down.

If you ever decide to take responsibility for your health and take action, go to amazon.com and get my book:

                            TOTAL HEALTH FOR LIFE

                                   MIND AND BODY

               THE BABY BOOMER’S BIBLE OF HEALTH

Following this program will lessen the risk of a host of ills, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, some types of cancer, and cardiovascular problems. It will also lower bad cholesterol, raise good cholesterol, and boost your metabolism. Along with these physical benefits, an improvement in self-image, self-esteem, and confidence will accrue.

Most of your life centers around the relationships you have with your loved ones, family, friends, and associates. If you plan on being around to enjoy these relationships, you need a good relationship with yourself, your mind, heart and body.

Don’t you have the desire to live the best quality of life possible? If you don’t then you are cheating yourself. Make TODAY the day you make the commitment to finally take action.

Please have your friends sign up for my FREE bi-weekly newsletter at www.totalhealth4life.net to keep up on current health issues and how to stay on track with the many changes in our society that effect your health in very important ways.

Rico Connor

How we age and die and how we can slow down aging

A telomere is a repeating sequence of DNA at the end of a chromosome. Each time a cell replicates and divides the telomere loses some of its length. Eventually the telomere runs out and the cell can no longer divide and rejuvenate, triggering a poor state of cell health that contributes to disease risk and eventual cell death. Depending on what we do we can speed up the process ( as most do!) or slow it down (anti aging). Another intriguing possibility is that you may be able to lengthen your telomeres while maintaining their quality, actually turning back your biological clock. The new science is showing that this is also possible, although we are far from any instant Fountain of Youth remedy.

The 21st Century is ushering in a new era of nutritional science, demonstrating the unbelievable power of nutrition to benefit human health. In this new understanding the search for the Fountain of Youth is no longer a fairy tale story. Scientific findings now suggest nutrition may be able to turn back the clock, at least a little bit. And the science clearly shows that nutrition can slow your rate of biological aging. Many nutrients can help protect and enhance repair capacity of your DNA, including your telomeres. A lack of antioxidants leads to increased free radical damage and more risk for damage to telomeres. Free radicals pr0duce inflammation which we want to avoid at all costs. The most basic supplements to address the inflammatory issue are vitamin D and DHA (the omega 3 fatty acid). Researchers have now demonstrated in 2100 female twin pairs, ages 19-79, that the highest levels of vitamin D were associated with the longest telomeres and the lowest vitamin D levels were associated with the shortest telomeres, a difference equating to five years of lifespan potential.  In a group of 608 cardiovascular patients followed over a five year period those with the highest intake of DHA/EPA had the longest telomeres and those with the lowest levels had the shortest telomeres.

The important point to understand is that you need an adequate supply of methyl donors in order for your telomeres to work properly, just like your car needs gasoline. The primary methyl donor for this purpose is called SAMe, which uses nutrients like methionine, MSM sulfur, choline, and trimethylglycine as building blocks.  Forming SAMe from these building blocks requires vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin B6.  

The most important basic supplement to help your telomeres is a good quality multiple vitamin along with adequate dietary protein, especially sulfur-containing proteins. Examples include whey protein, eggs, cottage cheese, dairy, red meat, chicken, legumes, duck, nuts, and seeds. Eggs are the highest source of choline in the diet, with other sources containing moderate amounts such as meat, chicken, dairy, nuts, and seeds.

Your brain also has a high need for methyl donors in order for your mood to feel good. If you are stressed out or depressed you are typically lacking methyl donors, meaning your telomeres are also running low of nourishment and prone to accelerated aging. This is a major reason why stress ages a person. Also, better quality skin as you age is directly related to the health of your telomeres.

On top of your antioxidant foundation there are specific antioxidant nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, carnosine, and especially tocotrienol E and resveratrol, are likely to have direct benefits for your telomeres. Nutrients such as quercetin, green tea catechins, grape seed extract, curcumin, and resveratrol all show specific ability to help preserve telomeres, with grape seed extract and curcumin showing the ability to generate longer telomeres.

RICO’S COMMENTS:

Of course any chronic health problem has increased inflammation and free radical damage as features and is likely to be associated with shorter telomeres. It all ties together: good nutrition, specific supplementation, exercise and mind-body connection (the 4 aspects of what I call Total Health). As telomeres shorten and/or or become functionally impaired, your body struggles to keep up. In this situation damaged molecules accumulate in your body and repair processes are hampered, aging is accelerated. The older you get the more the need for supplementation. You get out what you put in, just like any endeavor.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START MAKING THE CHANGES IN NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTATION THAT WILL SLOW DOWN THE SHORTENING OF YOUR TELOMERES. GROW YOUNG PEOPLE!

(click link above for the article)

As you know I write a monthly column for a national magazine called StripLV, a playboy like magazine based around Las Vegas. I have been writing for them for several years now and it’s my passion to empower my readers with knowledge to make the correct choices when it comes to nutrition, exercise and supplementation.

Read my latest all about how important Digestion and good gut health is in achieving optimal health! Bad digestion = no absorption of the minerals and vitamins in your food and supplements = poor health no matter what you do!

• 6-fold increase in the release of ghrelin (the “hunger hormone”) after a meal
• 20 percent increase in leptin levels (leptin is a hormone produced by fat tissue)
• 5 percent increase in BMI

Levels of ghrelin should ordinarily fall after a mealato signalayour brain that you’re full and readyato stop eating; an increase would therefore essentially tellayour brain to continue eating, leading to weight gain. Further, the increase in leptin levels is concerning because overexposure to high levels of the hormone can lead to leptin resistance, which meansayour body is unable to properly hear leptin’s signals.

The way your body stores fat is a highly regulated process that is controlled, primarily, by leptin. If you gain excess weight, the additional fat produces extra leptin that should alert your brain that your body is storing too much fat and needs to burn off the excess.

To do this, signals are sent to your brain to stop being hungry and to stop eating. When you become leptin-resistant, your body can no longer hear these messages — so it remains hungry and stores more fat.

Interestingly, you can easily become leptin resistant by eating the typical American diet full of sugar (fructose), refined grains and processed foods … which, like antibiotics, will upset the balance of bacteria in your gut.

RICO’S COMMENTS: Sucralose, which is in almost everything that is sugar free is unknowingly consumed by over 90% of Americans. Guess what? In addition to the above, Sucralose, like antibiotics (which everyone has at least taken once to several times in their lives) killsayour good gut bacteria. When there is an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your gut, your ability to digest and absorb the food you eat, even if it is super healthy, is hampered severely. This results in a condition called Candida, which surfaces as over 30 different health problems that a western doctor will never diagnose. To combat this problem that over an estimated 90% of Americans have, you need to go on a Candida diet, eliminating all sugar and take a super strong probiotic. This  will bring back the balance of good and bad bacteria in y0ur gut, and allow proper digestion to occur. Gut health is one of the keys to optimal health. Don’t forget that 80% of your immune system lives in your gut!

• 15 grams Pure Ion-Exchange Whey Protein Isolate
• 15 grams Super Collagen™ Bioavailable Peptides
• Rich in BCAAs
• Good source of L-Glutamine
• Enhanced with Exogenous Amino Acids
• Multi-vitamin Fortification
• Doctor Formulated

What’s NOT in Collagen Sport™

• Gluten, Wheat, Sugar & Lactose Free
• No Artificial Sweeteners or Flavors
• No Fillers or Synthetic Ingredients

The 4 in 1 Breakdown:

1 – Refuel

Whey Protein Isolate is THE preferred and superior form of protein for athletes. It’s rich in essential and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), necessary especially after strenuous workouts. BCAAs also play a role in the body’s levels of glutathione, an important antioxidant in the immune system. NeoCell’s whey protein isolate is developed using selective ion-exchange technology, which selects the primary functional and nutritional proteins alpha- and beta- lactoglobulins and other protein fractions for a highly effective and bio-active protein.

2 – Recover

Athletes all too often do not supplement their connective tissues in tendons and ligaments until deterioration sets in, resulting in the typical aches and pains of exercise. Super Collagen® 1&3 undergoes an absorption-enhancing process that uses enzyme hydrolyzation. This process yields low molecular weight collagen peptides for maximum bioavailability. Super Collagen® 1&3 is particularly rich in the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, and supports recovery, strength, and flexibility of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

3 – Regenerate

L-Glutamine & Exogenous Amino Acids – Strenuous activity burns through your body’s glutamine supplies, which can push the body to rip glutamine from your muscles if it isn’t coming from your diet. L-glutamine is the most abundant free-form amino acid in skeletal muscle and is crucial in the muscle recovery process. The special chemical structure of L-glutamine makes it the primary amino acid that drives nitrogen into muscle cells for muscle synthesis. Exogenous amino acids overall are important for increase of net muscle protein synthesis.

4 – Replenish

Each serving of Collagen Sport™ provides a good source of daily vitamins and minerals as well as the antioxidant power of Pomegranate extract. Increased activity results in higher oxidation in the body, requiring active individuals to counteract with high quality antioxidants. NeoCell’s pomegranate extract is standardized to 70% ellagic acid, an extraordinary antioxidant that fights cell-damaging free radicals generated during exercise.

RICO’S COMMENTS: This company sent me their protein powder to try out. It looked great. I am a very informed consumer. The only thing was that it is an ISOLATE powder. Isolate has the highest bioavailability  but why I don’t use them anymore is because I found out that isolates are stripped of all the alkalizing minerals and therefore are VERY ACIDIC. My lifestyle is based on having an alkaline, disease-free life. Alkaline bodies resist ALL disease. Disease can’t exist in an alkaline, oxygenated body. So I contacted the company and voiced my concerns as to why I couldn’t use it.

Most companies never even respond to you or just brush your remarks off. They not only contacted me but took my suggestions and got their protein tested  for pH (alkalinity)! Here’s what I recently got back from them: Our Collagen Sport just came back from 3rd party testing, and has a ph of 6.99. We believe the minerals in our formula are able to buffer the acidity of the isolate. That’s like tap water (neutral) and not acidic! Next I asked them if their powder was tested for HEAVY METALS. Mind you these are not questions that the average Joe knows to ask or even thinks about when buying protein powders. MOST POWDERS ON THE MARKET (the most popular ones!!!!) ARE FULL OF TOXINS, FOOD DYES, TOXIC SUGARS LIKE SUCRALOSE (that kill all of your good gut bacteria leading to a multitude of serious health problems), LACTOSE, GMO PRODUCTS, ETC.

Just got this reply back only after one week in reply to the HEAVY METALS question:

Hey Rico I just got back the results of our heavy metal testing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optimizing your vitamin D levels may be one of the most important steps you can take in support of your long-term health. There’s overwhelming evidence that vitamin D is a key player in your overall health. This is understandable when you consider that it is not “just” a vitamin; it’s actually a neuroregulatory steroidal hormone that influences nearly 3,000 different genes in your body. Receptors that respond to the vitamin have been found in almost every type of human cell, from your brain to your bones.

Just one example of an important gene that vitamin D up-regulates is your ability to fight infections, as well as chronic inflammation. It produces over 200 antimicrobial peptides, the most important of which is cathelicidin, a naturally occurring broad-spectrum antibiotic. This is one of the explanations for why it can be so effective against colds and influenza.

The truth is, vitamin D from sun exposure or a safe tanning bed is the BEST way to optimize your vitamin D levels. Safe tanning beds have electronic ballasts rather than magnetic ballasts, which helps you avoid unnecessary exposure to health-harming EMF fields. They also have less of the dangerous UVA than sunlight, while unsafe ones have more UVA than sunlight.

Vitamin D Dosage Recommendations

If appropriate tanning is not feasible, then you’ll be wise to consider an oral vitamin D3 supplement. According to the most recent findings by Carole Baggerly, founder of GrassrootsHealth, her research of nearly 10,000 people shows the ideal adult dose appears to be 8,000 IU’s a day to get most into the healthy range. Just remember to get your vitamin D levels tested regularly if you take an oral supplement.

That said, keeping a close eye on your vitamin D levels is a wise move for most. The widespread vitamin D deficiency seen today is now thought to fuel an astonishingly diverse array of common chronic diseases, including:

Cancer	Hypertension	Heart disease
Autism	Obesity	Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetes 1 and 2	Multiple Sclerosis	Crohn’s disease
Cold & Flu	Inflammatory Bowel Disease	Tuberculosis
Septicemia	Signs of aging	Dementia
Eczema & Psoriasis	Insomnia	Hearing loss
Muscle pain	Cavities	Periodontal disease
Osteoporosis	Macular degeneration	Reduced C-section risk
Pre eclampsia	Seizures	Infertility
Asthma	Cystic fibrosis	Migraines
Depression	Alzheimer’s disease	Schizophrenia

 

 

RICO’S COMMENTS: I take 10,000 IUs a day of D3. I don’t just want average levels of such an important vitamin in my body. I want optimal. I also tan outside when I can and use Mercola’s safe indoor tanning wall 10 minutes a day. You don’t have to hit me over the head with a hammer to make me realize the importance of having optimal levels in my body! I’ll never figure out how anyone that learns this doesn’t at least go get D3 to supplement with, knowing they aren’t out in the sun hardly at all and don’t do indoor tanning too. Like I always say “Knowledge is Power”. What you choose to do with your knowledge will define who you are as a person and what your state of health will be in the future.

YOU MIGHT NOT CARE NOW ….. BUT YOU WILL IN THE FUTURE.

 

GreenMedInfo.com has a list of 71 diseases that may be associated with statin drugs, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. There are actually over 900 studies showing the risks of statin drugs, which include:

Oftentimes statins do not have any immediate side effects, and they are quite effective, capable of lowering cholesterol levels by 50 points or more. This makes it appear as though they’re benefiting your health, and health problems that develop later on are frequently misinterpreted as brand new, separate health problems.

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2.) Flu Vaccines Have Little to No Measurable Benefit, not to mention being dangerous for you!

The CDC states that the annual flu vaccine is the “best” way to avoid catching the seasonal flu, but what many fail to realize is that there’s virtually NO valid scientific evidence to support it, in either its effectiveness or its safety. This is particularly true for key target groups for which the CDC says the flu shot is most important, like seniors, children and pregnant women!

Again and again, the Cochrane Database Review—which is the gold standard for assessing the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of commonly used medical interventions—has concluded that flu vaccines do not appear to have any measurable benefit either for children, adults, or seniors.

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3.) Drug companies are making claims based on lies with only 6% of their advertising backed by scientific evidence.

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4.) Wisely choosing how you cook your fish can make a big difference. Carefully poaching or baking until tender and flaky, while avoiding over-cooking the fish are your best bets.

When cooking any kind of food, also keep the following tips in mind:

• Use a stable oil like coconut oil for all your cooking and baking
• Avoid using non-stick or aluminum cookware
• Avoid overcooking your food

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5.) Foods that raise your blood sugar levels essentially are “toxic” in that they set in motion a cascade of detrimental health effects. The same can be said for fructose. It’s not a toxin in and of itself, but when consumed in excess (anything above 15-25 grams/day for most people), its effects are toxic to your system and will surely have a negative impact on your health.

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6.) Every food has a “heat labile point.” This is the temperature point at which food changes its chemical configuration. Pasteurization, deep-frying, and barbecuing are all forms of cooking where food is heated past the heat labile point.

Your body is designed to eat foods of certain chemical configurations—which is related to your ancestral history.

If these configurations change, whether due to ‘unnatural’ cooking methods, or chemical additives, your body may not be able to properly digest and assimilate that food as it doesn’t have the appropriate enzymes for the job. When the food does not digest and assimilate properly, it can sit in your gut, where it can become toxic. For example, carbohydrates can start to ferment; proteins putrefy, and fats become rancid. These toxins irritate the lining of your gastrointestinal tract and can upset your gut flora, causing overgrowth of candida and other pathogens. Many of today’s ills can be traced back to improper and unnatural cooking and processing.

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7.) In her book, “Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer,” Shannon Brownlee talks about the number of people who die in hospitals due to incorrect care, drug dosage or hospital-acquired infections. Even with new safety regulations in place, 180,000 hospitalized Americans still die every year from largely preventable causes – and the worst part about it, Brownlee says, is that as much as a third of that care does nothing to improve your health! The United States ranks 46^th in the world in infant mortality and 49^th in life expectancy.

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8.) FLUORIDE IN OUR TAP WATER!

Originally, the fluoride used to fluoridate water supplies came from the aluminum and atomic bomb industries. A couple of years later, however, they realized there was another fluoride product that was much more readily available.  The reason it was so readily accessible was because it was a truly hazardous waste that was very hard to get rid of, namely hydrogen fluoride from the phosphate fertilizer industry.

This fluoride gas is captured in the scrubber system and turned into hydrofluorosilicic acid—which is the primary source of fluoride used for water fluoridation. This phosphate fertilizer byproduct also typically contains arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, plus a variety of other contaminants that are part of the phosphate ore.

“And so now you have a product, or a hazardous material, that you can’t put in an ocean, you can’t put in a river or lake or stream, you can’t bury it, and you can’t even give it away,” says Green. But you can sell it and put it in the commercial water supplies!

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9.) Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that influences virtually every cell in your body, and is easily one of nature’s most potent cancer fighters. So I want to stress again that if you are shunning all sun exposure, you are missing out on this natural cancer protection. You can get vitamin D3 in supplement form, and if sunlight or a safe tanning bed is not an option. Higher levels of vitamin D are necessary to provide protection from more serious chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, infections, multiple sclerosis and more. The average adult needs to take 8,000 IU’s of vitamin D per day in order to elevate his or her levels above 40 ng/ml — the bare minimum requirement necessary for disease prevention. Ideally, you’ll want your levels to be between 50-70 ng/ml.

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10.) STRENGTH TRAINING is an integral part of a well-rounded exercise program, and is recommended for all ages, including kids and seniors. Do it because muscle revolutionizes your metabolism, transforms your body from the inside out, and is your best bet for reversing the aging process. It’s also an important part of maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening your bones, and improving your body’s posture, range of motion and functionality In short, do it because muscle is about all the things you associate with youth.

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Info from: Dr. Mercola, Al Sears, Mike Adams

RICO’S COMMENTS: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Mission Statement

Achieving optimal health, physically, emotionally and spiritually is ever more difficult in today’s high-tech world we live in. Just eating right and exercising is only the tip of the iceberg. Stress, pollution, toxins in our everyday food, air and products, lack of sleep and sunshine, greedy corporations tainting our food supplies for profit, and the ill effects of technological advances endanger our health at every turn. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to make appropriate choices for you and your family, in nutrition, exercise and supplementation to be able to live the longest, healthiest, happiest, disease-free life possible!

from www.mercola.com

Coconut water is a clear, light, refreshing liquid (95 percent water) extracted from young, green coconuts that have not reached maturity. As a result of the rich volcanic soils and mineral-rich seawater in which coconut palms grow, coconut water’s nutritional profile is very impressive. BOTH the “meat” and the liquid of coconuts are nutritional powerhouses! But we will focus on the water today. Coconut water is one of Nature’s perfect foods—it is hard to say enough good things about it. It’s the perfect replacement for juice or soda. Please remember to read the label, to make sure it’s as pure and unprocessed as possible.

Coconut water is:

• Rich in natural vitamins (especially the B vitamins), minerals, and trace elements (including zinc, selenium, iodine, sulfur, and manganese). Vitamins are necessary for the enzymatic reactions your cells need in order to function.
• Full of amino acids, organic acids, enzymes, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
• Rich source of electrolytes and natural salts, especially potassium and magnesium.
• Light, low calorie and nearly fat-free, as well as low in sugar but pleasantly sweet—contains about a fifth of the sugar of other fruit juices, like apple or grape juice, as well as containing a little fiber to moderate absorption.
• Rich in cytokinins, or plant hormones, which have anti-aging, anti-cancer, and anti-thrombolytic effects in humans.

Coconut water also has an alkalizing effect on your body, which can help correct the cumulative effects of acidifying foods that make up most diets today.

THE BEST SPORTS DRINK!

For most average exercisers and athletes, sports drinks are not only a waste of your money, but more importantly, can actually worsen the health of most who use them. Less than one percent of those who use sports drinks actually benefit from them. Most sports drinks are loaded with things you DON’T want, like refined sugars, artificial colors and chemicals, none of which are in natural coconut water.

Fresh coconut water is one of the richest natural sources of electrolytes and can be used to prevent dehydration from strenuous exercise. You lose electrolytes (especially sodium and potassium) when you sweat, which must be replenished with food and water intake. Because coconut water naturally contains so many electrolytes, it’s been called “Nature’s Gatorade.”

Coconut water has five electrolytes your body needs:

1. Potassium: The most important positive ion (cation) inside your cells; potassium regulates heartbeat and muscle function; coconut water contains 295 mg, which is 15 times the amount in the average sports drink
2. Sodium: The most important positive ion in fluid outside your cells, and also the one most depleted with exercise, as you lose sodium through sweat and urine
3. Magnesium: important for maintaining the electrical potential of your cells, proper muscle function, and preventing calcium overload
4. Phosphorous: Plays important roles in bone health, but also in transferring energy throughout your body, helping your muscles contract, and regulating nerve function (partners with calcium)
5. Calcium: Important for bone health (partners with phosphorous)

BUT WAIT …. THERE’S MORE!!!

High levels of mineral ions, especially potassium, in coconut water have been found to help prevent heart attacks. And coconut water has been found to have blood pressure benefits. In one study, 71 percent of people who drank coconut water experienced lower blood pressures.

Possibly the most important nutritional constituent in coconut water—more beneficial than the electrolytes vitamins and minerals and amino acids—is something you’ve likely never even heard of: cytokinins.

Cytokinins have actually been found to exert an anti-aging effect on human cells and tissues. When human cells are exposed to cytokinins, aging slows down considerably. Cells treated with cytokinins don’t undergo the normal degenerative changes, so they don’t “act their age.” Researchers have suggested that if you consume a diet rich in cytokinins, you may experience anti-aging effects and have less risk for degenerative and age-related diseases. And coconut water is the richest natural dietary source of cytokinins.

Cytokinins have also been found to have anti-thrombolytic properties so may lower your risk for blood clots. But coconut’s heart benefits don’t stop there. They have also been shown to have anti-cancer effects.

 To read this whole article ( and you do!) click below:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2099/12/31/coconut-water-ultimate-rehydrator.aspx?e_cid=20111109_DNL_artTest_A5

RICO’S COMMENTS: You gotta be kidding me! I have been drinking coconut water for awhile now. I knew it was electrolyte rich and the best sports drink out there but I  had no idea of all it’s other fantastic health benefits! Lucky me! The key is it’s from NATURE, as you were intended to eat/drink. Not a bunch of refined, processed , toxic sugar sweetened, loaded with chemicals and food dyes CRAP (BASICALLY ALL OF YOUR SPORTS/ENERGY DRINK LINES) Just one more in my arsenal of anti-aging supplements! Replace all the juice, soda, milk, sports drinks and other junk you are drinking with coconut water and reap the benefits!

Drinking apple cider vinegar before meals will help with weight loss. We saw earlier that apples are a good source of pectin, and including pectin in your diet can make you feel fuller and more satisfied. Since apple cider vinegar contains the same amount of pectin as apples (one apple has about 1.5 grams pectin), it can suppress your appetite in a similar way.

There is also good science behind why apple cider vinegar would encourage weight loss even more effectively than eating raw apples. In general, acids help with the digestion of protein, the building blocks for some of our hormones, especially growth hormone. We’ve seen how this hormone is instrumental in breaking down fat cells. By increasing the acid present in your stomach before a meal, you’ll ensure the chances for thorough digestion and increase the availability of protein for hormone synthesis.

Protein is needed for the production of insulin, which we know is necessary for converting glucose energy and maintaining an active, fat-burning metabolism. Here again, apple cider vinegar can raise your metabolic rate by increasing the body’s ability to utilize proteins for insulin formation.

Greater protein utilization helps the formation of growth hormone, the substance that keeps the body’s metabolism going while we’re at rest. This is why it is important to drink apple cider vinegar before or with your evening meal. If you make sure this meal is high in protein, it will increase the amount of protein available for the apple cider vinegar to convert into amino acids. This increased protein breakdown makes it more likely that growth hormone will be produced and your metabolism will be stimulated while you sleep. (If you find a high-protein evening meal over-stimulates you, consider eating it a little earlier in the evening than usual.)

Because apple cider vinegar stimulates digestion, it also reduces the amount of time that fats remains in the digestive tract. It’s important that your body gets a chance to remove key nutrients from your food, and conditions that contribute to diarrhea can be life-threatening. But at the same time, it can be unhealthful to have food remain in the intestines for too long. If fats present longer than necessary during digestion, more fats will be absorbed.

RICO’S COMMENTS:

ACV is one of MANY natural health remedies out there. I have been taking two teaspoons of organic Apple Cider Vinegar in a glass of water before every  meal for awhile now. The owner/chemist for a big supplement company turned me on to it because of it’s ability to help break down the large amount of protein I consume to help keep my body full of lean muscle. He told me it helps break down protein 20% more  by taking it. I also take a strong digestive enzyme and hydrochloric acid to help my digestion. Most of us have digestive problems because of an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in our guts. Antibiotics and sucralose (which is toxic sweetener in most diet foods in the grocery store) kill the good bacteria, so that we cannot digest the food we eat. No digestion, no assimilation, no benefits/nutrition. Remember 80% of your immune system lives in your gut. Having a healthy digestive system is one of the keys to a healthy life.