— 6 Comments

An Open Letter to the Santa Claus of Fitness

Dear Fitness Santa,

Have I been naughty or nice?

If my blood sugar level surpasses the pre-diabetic levels, will you put coal in my stocking?

Let’s just forget about my brother’s triple layer homemade pumpkin cheesecake I ate on Thanksgiving — I swear it was a special occasion!

If I’ve been good, then you should know what I want for Christmas this year.

My Fittmas Wishes for 2010

Santa, if you are really true, then you will help me get these Christmas wishes.

1. Health for my friends and family

They are good people, I promise…even though they may occasionally carbo-load on a regular basis.

My Aunt makes the BEST Christmas cookies.

I realize their pancreas’ may be working overtime to secrete insulin, so my Christmas wish is that you improve the Insulin Sensitivity of all of my friends and family. This way, they will be able to enjoy carbs better, to utilize to energy from carbs, and to not gain weight as fast.

2. Extra protection for my Central Nervous System

Because I am an addict of strength and total body power, I engage in strength exercises as HEAVY as possible for only a single repetition. This taxes my body and causes significant Oxidative Stress to my Central Nervous System.

This is not about muscles, this is PURE Central Nervous System stimulation.

In order for me to prevent disease and continue to strengthen the neural connections between mind and muscle, I ask that you give my battle hardened nerves an extra boost going into the new year.

3. Give me the Fat of my Friends so I can burn it off for them.

I can seriously eat the worst tasting foods in the world if I can realize the benefits of it. Even some of the healthiest people I know are not even willing to consume foods like the sticky, stringy, bitter fermented Natto soybeans.

It's an effective fat burner, but I can do it better.

As long as I can maintain my skin elasticity, I will take your fat and burn it or find some way to make sustainable energy to slow down Global Warming (err..I mean Climate Change).

4. Give Justin Beiber a hamburger

Kid needs to eat.

’nuff said.

5. Collectively lower the world population’s Homocysteine levels

A customer jokingly asked how I know about all this “Bullsh*t” and its because I read a lot. Homocysteine is a real threat within every person if levels are constantly elevated.

Elevated levels of homocysteine are a marker of inflammation and oxidative damage in the body. Even worse, the higher the homocysteine levels, the greater risk of cardiac events.

How efficient is your body at Remethylizing Homocysteine?

Santa, it saddens me to see 30-40 year old open-heart surgery patients who have been weakened by disease of lifestyle. Please supply significant methyl-donor molecules, which can re-methylize homocysteine and protect the structures of our mortal human bodies.

6. Reform the Farm Bill, which may be responsible for Diabetes in America

What does the Farm Bill mean to you? It means that you can walk into any grocery store and purchase processed foods containing High Fructose Corn Syrup at an artificially low price.

The Farm Bill supplies Corn farmers with BILLIONS of dollars just so that they continue to produce corn in massive quantities. In fact, corn would not really be profitable for the farmers without YOUR tax dollars artificially increasing the demand for corn.

Corn mass made possible by government Subsidies

Scientists and people-without-your-best-interest-in-mind who wear lab coats are constantly finding ways to process corn into “products” (food items) that consumers can purchase at a low cost.

These food items contain NEGATIVE nutritional value, but they taste good. High Fructose Corn Syrup stimulates the reward section of our brains at a very fast rate, but it does NOT affect satiety.

The Farm Bill helps make this "evolution" possible

So Americans just want more and more and more, and they CAN GET MORE, because the price is artificially decreased.

Reform the Farm Bill with both HEALTH and ECONOMY at the heart of the issue.

Then, Santa, Americans can move forward together in health.

7. All Restaurants should supply Digestive Enzyme supplements with meals

Capsules containing plant based enzymes can make a world of difference when it comes to digestive health and nutritional absorption of meals.

Amylase – carbohydrate digesting enzyme

Protease – protein digesting enzyme

Lipase – fat digesting enzyme

A 10-cent capsule containing these enzymes prior to meals at restaurants can not only prevent cases of bloating and gas, but also improve the absorption of nutrients entering the body.

Enzymes make it all flow smoother

When chunks of food aren’t able to be digested well enough, the food can putrefy and have a toxic effect on the body. For example, when someone eats Steak and an hour later gets horrible disgusting nasty gas, that is a signal from your body that the digestive system is compromised and therefore the immune system is taxed in order to detoxify it.

Enzymes before meals can promote a healthy digestive and immune system, even after a heavy steak meal.

8. Nutrition courses should be a Requirement for EVERY Institution and Industry!

If it is truly our goal in this country to prevent disease and be well, then we need to align our goals with our actions.

Enjoy an apple AND know why you should enjoy it.

There are not enough resources available to the typical consumer — which is a reason why blogs like this gain popularity. Health matters.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/what-doctors-dont-know-about-nutrition/

9. Help me Show Americans the benefits of Fermented Foods

I realize Santa, that since I don’t have an appendix anymore… I no longer have a “reservoir” of beneficial bacteria in my body. Which is why if I get sick or experience significant dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance), then I can only cure myself by consuming Pre and ProBiotic foods.

This is Natto. It took me six months to learn how to Enjoy natto.

Fermented Foods are the foods with the most living activity. They provide life because they are living. Fermented foods like Yogurt, Kefir, Kim Chi, Natto, etc. have a huge array of proven physiological benefits on the body.

This Probiotic Blog post is one of the most popular posts I’ve ever written

I wonder how many cases of cancer we could prevent by eating two bites of Kimchi before dinner.

Even though it is super health, Santa, please don’t put any KimChi in my stocking.

10. I wish that EVERYONE becomes an Herbalist!

I used to think Herbs had little effect on the body…except for “certain” herbs.

But now I know better.

Herbs are similar to food.

Lots of herbs contain vitamins and minerals just like food. But what makes an herb so special is that it often has a specific “phytonutrient” or “phytochemical” which helps the herb grow and survive in its ecological environment. These PHYTONUTRIENTS have beneficial effects on the human body.

For example, Milk Thistle helps the detoxification process of the human liver.

Dandelion will make you pee, and your Kidneys will love it.

Arjuna lowers blood pressure and your gets your heart happy.

Ginger kills H. Pylori the bacteria responsible for ulcers and also puts an end to nausea (I gotta take ginger if my step-dad is driving).

The list goes on.

Tulsi, aka Holy Basil, is a great "Feel-Good" Herb. It makes wonderful Tea!

Herbs are for real, and everyone should be an herbalist.

Santa, if you are truly real, please help me promote Wellness in the world.

I am nice, and sometimes naughty, but I care for my people and you do too.

Lets make this Christmas a good one. Let’s bring awareness to the self and confidence from within.

Merry Christmas to one and to all.

Perhaps there is a little Fitness Santa in all of us.

Blog & Personality Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion
— 3 Comments

What is it that Makes COCONUT OIL a top Superfood?

Coconut Oil

Upon unleashing the power of coconut oil, let the delicious tropical aroma of coconuts gently flow toward your senses.

A Jar of Goodness

That delightful scent is animated by a rich texture which welcomes you into the World of Health Benefits from Coconut Oil. 

I'd crack a coconut for you.

Do you want to know more?

Coconut Oil is the ideal Oil for Health, Fitness, and Vitality

It is not my intention to persuade everyone into the world of Coconut Oil. I simply aim to share how this oil has completely replaced butter, and many other cooking oils in my life.

Coconut Oil Benefit #1:

Saturated Fat.

You heard me, SATURATED FAT. Say it loud and proud!

We all benefit from some saturated fat in our diets.

Chemical structure of fatty acids

Just like mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fat, saturated fatty acids can be found in every cell of the human body.

Take home point: Diets should be no more than 10% saturated fat, and saturated fat should come from food sources with other redeeming qualities (like coconut oil).

Coconut Oil Benefit #2:

Medium Chain Triglycerides.

Say what?

Medium Chain Triglycerides (or MCTs) are different than their Long-Chain counterparts — which you will find in foods like butter and red meat.

Beautiful beautiful MCT structure

MCT’s have multiple benefits:

  • Very easily digested by the body (for example, surgery patients in hospitals who can’t digest regular fats are often fed pure MCT’s in order to promote recovery)
  • A great source of energy for the systems in the body
  • The energy from MCTs is similar to that of energy from carbohydrates, except your pancreas doesn’t have to release a lot of insulin for it. As a result, you don’t get blood sugar spikes — making it easier to lose weight and stay lean.
  • Due to chemical structure of MCTs, it is nearly impossible for it to be stored as bodyfat.

For these reasons, the MCT’s in coconut oil can make your day better, everyday better.

Coconut Oil Benefit #3:

Immune System Benefits

I want you healthy from Day ONE!

Coconut Oil contains several interesting components which can help fight infectious disease and yeast overgrowth.

Lauric Acid: A 12-carbon Medium Chain Triglyceride which has antimicrobial properties. In the human body, Lauric Acid converts into a substance called Monolaurin to reap the antimicrobial and immune benefits.

Caprillic Acid: An 8-carbon Medium Chain Triglyceride that can easily penetrate cell walls and fight against species of bacteria such as various Streptococcus strains. It also has anti-fungal effects, which is why many people with Candida/Yeast issues can get benefits from Coconut Oil.

It is also naturally anti-parasitic.

Consuming Coconut Oil prior to eating unhealthy food can help to ward off bacterial and other infections.

College kids eating Crappy Food? Try Coconut Oil 20 minutes before meals to stay healthy.

Coaches advice: He suggested his college athletes heat up and liquefy 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to consume 20-30 minutes before crappy college meals in order to stay healthy.

Coconut Oil Benefit #4:

One of the Best cooking Oils known to man.

There are several reasons why Coconut Oil is great to cook with. Aside from the sensory benefits from the pleasant aroma and the great taste that it adds to cooked food, Coconut Oil is superior to many other cooking oils.

Table of Smoke Points. Source: easydietforlife.com

HIGHLY STABLE against Oxidation.

Coconut Oil has a high smoke point. The smoke point of an oil relates to the point at which it oxidizes.

Food which has been subjected to significant oxidation will create free-radicals in the body — causing significant damage to cells and DNA if there aren’t enough antioxidants available. (example of antioxidants are Vitamin C, E, Selenium, anythocyanins from blueberries, resveratrol from red wine, etc.)

When you think Oxidation, picture a car with a ton of Rust all over it.

THIS is oxidation!

Do you want that degradation in YOUR own body?

Even with healthy habits, some oxidation is inevitable. But the better you manage your free-radicals, the better condition you will be in.

Coconut Oil cooks foods at high temperature without oxidizing.

As a result, there are fewer harmful free-radicals present in the food.

Therefore, it provides greater nutrient value of our food.

You + Nutrient Value = Win, win, win!

Coconut Oil Benefit #5:

Weight Loss!

Actually, this is more about body-composition.

Ideally, we should have a healthy ratio of lean mass to bodyfat.

Men: Less than 15% bodyfat is ideal (You start seeing abs around 10% bodyfat)

Women: Less than 25% bodyfat is ideal. (Women may see abs around 17% bodyfat)

Does she cook with coconut oil?

Since the MCT’s from coconut oil provide vital energy for the body without even budging Blood Sugar levels in the body, it promotes a healthy state of metabolism in the body.

Fat storage for long periods of time can wreak havoc on your hormones, blood sugar, and immune function.

Coconut oil can help you stay in fat-burning mode continuously — which is ideal. We should be burning fat and storing (some) fat every day.

DOSING  Strategy for COCONUT OIL…

Weight Loss: 1-2 tablespoons per day. Cook your food in it.

Bodybuilding: Build up to 4-6 tablespoons per day depending on tolerance. Consume with each meal, spread out through the day. These are lean calories which can help promote lean muscle mass.

Do YOU know what is it that makes Coconut Oil a top Superfood?

I hope so.

Dang, I really hope so. It’s not so much that my life depends on it, but maybe yours does.

Jackie Chan fans should use Coconut Oil on their popcorn.

I truly believe that high consumption of a variety of super-foods on a regular basis can make for a Super You.

Seriously, get Super with me, my friends.

BONUS antioxidant power:

For extra antioxidant power, energy, weight loss, and vitality, Both Jackie Chan and I promote the regular consumption of Green Tea.

Click the link for more on the benefits of Green Tea

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion Weightloss Now
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How America’s Dangerous level of Homocysteine is The REAL Killer

Homo-what?

Elevated homoysteine levels are an indication of degradation in the body.

Homocysteine is an amino acid found in blood. It is a breakdown product of L-Methionine, which you can only get from food.

Homocysteine degrades arteries, collagen, and connective tissues.

Homocysteine is highly damaging at unchecked levels, compared to the beneficial amino acid L-Methionine which strengthens hair, skin, and nail structures and more.

When your Homocysteine levels are high, you haven’t reached  sufficient ratio of Homocysteine to L-Methionine.

Read on to see why…

Your Life Depends on…the Methyl Donor.

Methyl Donor is not a person who gives up his hydrophobic functional groups to those in need.

Actually, a Methyl Donor — found in good nutrition — can promote wellness and disarm Homocysteine for good.

Methyl donors act by a remethylation processes. It converts homocysteine into a harmless and beneficial substance. It recycles homocysteine.

Marry the right person, and get the best results.

The same goes for healthy nutrition….

Pick nutrients to promote a state of wellness.

Best Foods to Promote Wellness

1. Organic/and/or/Local/Free-raised/non-GMO/Omega-3 EGGS.

Whole eggs are one of nature’s best foods when it comes to nutrition.

Eggs are one of the best sources in the diet of a vitamin similar to the B-Vitamins. The nutrient known as Choline is highly absorbable in the Egg. In fact, Choline is now becoming as important as Folic Acid for child development in pregnancy.

Choline is a Methyl Donor.

It effectively processes and helps to lower homocysteine levels in the blood.

In addition to this highly positive benefit, Eggs also contain a variety of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and is a source of low-glycemic energy.

2. Raw/and/or/Fresh/Bottled/Purple BEET JUICE*.

Beet Juice is a potent blood purifier.

It will detoxify blood and strengthen along with it’s highly absorbable form of iron.

  • The betacyanins responsible for the powerful purple color of the beet act as extremely beneficial antioxidants in the body. A doctor in Hungary claims to have successfully treated tumors with a daily regime of beet juice.
  • Beet Juice is also a great source of Glutamine, an amino acid that maintains lean tissue and boosts both the digestive and immune systems.
  • The Nitrites in Beet Juice have been shown to boost athletic stamina and regulate blood pressure.

Beet Juice is a methyl donor because it contains Betaine, and some people call it Trimethylglycine. Betaine is a natural methyl-donor which is assimilated well from Beet Juice.

Vitamin B12 and Folate, naturally found in Beet Juice, has also been found responsible for decreasing dangerous homocysteine levels in the body.

*Beet Juice is most often combined with Carrot Juice

Beet Juice and Eggs are a cure for the Standard American Diet

By incorporating these foods into your diet, you assist your body towards a greater being. We seek to exist in a physiological state of wellness.

Thats why I hang out at the markets, juice shops, and Co-Ops.

Come get Well, and Stay Well.

The Beet Juice can change your life. So too does the morning omelet strengthen.

So please, Recycle that Homocysteine.

Then come home to papa.



Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion
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How are You with E. Coli beef and Salmonella eggs?

Food is life.

Life is like energy, incorporating food.

My fellow reader. We are the energy from nourishment — the nutrients of life. But something is taking away from that.

Sick eggs.

Bad bacteria in food is a serious issue. Half a billion eggs — taken off the market due to health risks.

Beef has it too

Bacteria are simple living organisms — constantly recycling basic nutrients for higher life.

Think of the bad bacteria that steal nutrients from cells. The good guys help you when you help them.

For now, this is about avoiding the bad bacteria. Half a billion egg recalls and now big beef comes into question. What isn’t in doubt is the importance of prevention.

How cows get E. coli.

  1. Diet
  2. Lack of nutrition
  3. Unfavorable touch and/or abuse (handling conditions)
  4. Dangerously unhygienic habitat grow space

Coming to a plate near you…

How to Protect yourself from E. Coli and Salmonella in Beef and Eggs:

Since you have heard the news, you’re already in the game.

1. Consumer education

What are you actually eating?  Where does it come from?  When was it grown or created?

Know your food.

Feed 'em right, so they're like angels.

2. Choose healthy options

Building from the first step, seek the good stuff.

Intuitively, you probably already know what it is. Whole foods, fresh foods, and real foods.

3. Prepare food at home to avoid standard restaurant fare.

Sure, if you forget to pack a lunch one day a week, you can get some Mexican food that day.

But for the rest of the days, prepare food ahead of time and pack it for lunch.

Ice pack + lunchbox = meal on the go.

IronMan2 drinks his Greens

4. If in doubt, cook the life out of it.

It’s known that heat kills bacteria. For example, some egg companies pasteurize the product before sale. So the bacteria is pre-cooked — you know it is pasteurized by the marking on the egg.

When at home, you can cook meat and eggs to kill bacteria. But if you verify that your meat was from healthy animals, then you can even leave some raw in the middle.

5. Buy local organic

Aside from the nutritional benefits of well-treated cows, there are greater health benefits as well.

Healthy is something that contributes positively to behavior and self-thought. Even though each cow must be ended, the healthiest cows feed us mind-body-everything nourishment.

Go for the beef, and make it grass fed. Chew thoroughly for optimal digestion, and rock on.

Your GUT is the Last Stand against Bad Bacteria

Anything that cant survive in a certain place, won’t survive for long.

The healthy immune system promotes a digestive environment in which E. Coli and Salmonella do not survive.

Bad Digestion is a warning signal!

If you hear other people talk more about digestion, you aren’t alone.

It’s common for people to have horrible digestion from the highly processed diets found in America.

For most, the intestinal flora is out of balance.

Too much acid, not enough alkaline.

Eat more vegetables. Green is known as the color of peace and ecology. Make it green, keep it clean.

To clean up the gut, consume Probiotics

Probiotics are non-human cells that are beneficial to the system.

Probiotic foods prevent disease and promote healing.

The best probiotic foods have this in common:

  • it is abundant with beneficial living cells
  • promotes positive enzyme potential

These probiotic foods contain beneficial lactic acid producing bacteria. In the gut, lactic acid acts as an environmental regulator for other strains of other bacteria. Healthy bacteria that has been with you since birth will thrive in this environment.

For example, from Probiotic Kefir I can easily consume over a hundred billion bacteria from one large serving. Now, most, of this bacteria will continue traveling on through my system.

A serving of Kefir

One serving of Kefir can:

  1. Promote assimilation of nutrients
  2. Relax the central nervous system
  3. Reduce the ratio of harmful bacteria in your gut
  4. Provide all eight essential amino acids
  5. Good source of Tryptophan — precursor to serotonin and a good mood.
  6. Excellent source of calcium
  7. Contains some Vitamin-K (MK7) which promotes constructive metabolism of bone tissue.
  8. Regulate blood sugar levels (great for diabetic)
  9. Gives you energy
  10. Aid in the development of lean muscle tissue
  11. Boost the immune system against bacteria, virus, and more.
  12. Contribute active enzymes

When it comes down to it, this food changed my life. I don’t go more than a day or two without it.

Let food be the answer.

Mass produced food is one of the greatest causes of disease, but it is also one of the greatest causes of human life.

Without massive globalized agriculture, billions of people on this planet would not subsist. But we have to find a balance. Our food is our life — by choosing your food, you choose your life.

So you have two choices. Cook the life out of all of your food, OR… make probiotic food a priority.

This is the difference between less than potential versus wellbeing.

WARNING: Healthy food may produce long lasting results

You are the answer.

Eat with confidence, my friends.

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion