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Top 3 Guide to Natural Fat Burners and Body Boosts That Really Work

Balanced nutrition is key, BUT these can help!

Even though balanced nutrition is the key element to success here, I believe that supplements can play a very useful role in this balance.

The foundation is a nutrient dense, properly prepared diet and the pillars are what support you and make you beautiful and functioning.

Extra support can be very beneficial.

Focus on the foundations of your nutrition and then experiment with herbs because they are like tools that unlock elements of biological metabolism.

Your body has unique needs.

The truth is that the best diet plan is the one that is best for you. The only way to learn what is best for you is to listen to the wisdom of your own body. A professional can assist you in learning how to understand the needs of your body. For example, people can work with me one on one.

No matter what, I’ll still share with you some of the best fat burning supplements that I have experienced and believe in.

Be careful if you have a sensitive stomach already. Some of the supplements below can be fairly stimulating.

Amazon links are affiliate links.

1. Matcha (green tea powder)

If you have been following me for a while, this will come as no surprise to you.

Matcha provides some of the most nutrient dense source of caffeine possible. The antioxidants from matcha are loaded in free radical scavenging capability, while a significant source of amino acid L-Theanine nourishes the brain.

The green tea amino acid, L-theanine (L-THE) is associated with several health benefits, including improvements in mood, cognition and a reduction of stress and anxiety-like symptoms.

The benefits of matcha is something that is worth reading a book about.

2. Phycocyanin (the blue spirulina algae)

Used to be very rare as a supplement, but has lately gained accessibility due to advances in growing and extraction technology. This is still considered a complete food, which means that it is full of vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants and much more.

Previously, I talked about the benefits of green superfoods. I still concur with those benefits. However, blue superfoods are on the rise (despite still being more rare).

The blue pigment has a very high antioxidant ability. I actually think my eyes improve when I consume this supplement.

There is a level of naturally occurring abundance of phenylethylamine, considered to stimulate the brain. It also stimulates the metabolism and is great for exercise and fitness related events.

3. Apple cider vinegar

Also known as ACV, apple cider vinegar boasts a powerful reputation in the natural health community for blood sugar benefits.

Even though it is acidic, it is still alkaline forming due to the way it interacts with the body.

Many recent scientific investigations have documented that vinegar ingestion reduces the glucose response to a carbohydrate load in healthy adults and in individuals with diabetes. There is also some evidence that vinegar ingestion increases short-term satiety.

It is versatile as it can be used in salad dressing and refreshing beverages.

Apple cider vinegar is great for dealing with cravings. That’s also why I really like the Kevita brand of products.

Caution: Perhaps fat burning should NOT be a primary goal.

Let me be clear. While I do help clients burn fat and gain muscular development that is balanced, my primary duty is to teach people actions they can take to support the foundations of health like digestion/elimination, blood sugar regulation, and stress management.

You will understand the foundations of health in future blog posts.

As you understand the foundations better, you can begin to play with more advanced ideas relating to your nutritional enlightenment.

Burning fat can be rewarding.

You don’t need me to write a blog post about the benefits of being lean, do you? Did already

Besides, you probably already know that there are many untapped benefits in developing strong lean muscle and healthy range of motion in all of your joints.

I just wanted to share a few tricks that I use to keep my body fat percentage in the teens or below for years on end.

Please follow this blog with the follow blog button.

Dear readers, you’re great. Blog followers, you’re the best.

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Top 5 Favorite Antioxidants for Gut Health, Fatty Acid Metabolism, and Fitness

Antioxidants are like the prisms of life.

The symbolism of the antioxidant is that of protection.

Antioxidants protect us from volatile oxygen molecules. With the protection of antioxidants, our body can filter the chemical reaction from oxygen consumption in a positive way. We become more efficient in our environment.

There is one secret that I haven’t talked enough about. I will share this with you today.

Human Power Runs on Short Chain Fatty Acids.

The basic cellular functions appreciate short chain fatty acids that are metabolized by a variety of bacteria all combining to form a significant part of the human ecosystem and microbiome. Fortunately, there is evidence of plasticity with changes of microbiome related to changes in diet.

One example of a strategy would be a simple focused plan to consume foods that increase diversity within in the gut. I’ll give you reasons why antioxidants are crucial in gut health evolution.

The ecosystem of the microbiome changes like waves in athletes.

This picture is an example of how easily it is to notice quick alterations in an athlete.

It isn’t a far guess to assume that the function and health status of the immune system is also highly related to this.

Antioxidants have effect on DNA/RNA relationships

I believe that antioxidants represent some vital life force in the world. I have many favorite antioxidants. Things like polyphenols or proanthocyanidins may balance the adrenals, supporting cognitive function.

My favorite antioxidants:

This is the first list. More lists coming soon so please click the follow the blog button.

1. Acai

acaiyummy

I have so many good memories on great beaches with wonderful people. It is from the Amazon rainforest and the pure unsweetened pulp is a highly valuable item in my opinion. This is an Amazon affiliate link that supports the future of the blog.

Me years ago on a beach far away.

When I was in Brazil, my thought specifically to get more acai was the benefit for my skin while in the hot sun. I know I needed protection and I believed this helped keep me healthy.

2. Wild Alaskan Salmon or also natural astaxanthin.

This is one of the SLAMMERS in the antioxidant world! It’s the reason why salmon and many marine life forms, and things that eat marine life forms, often have a pink hue.

This is an extremely valuable antioxidant with effects throughout the body because it crosses the blood-brain barrier. Aside from reaching your brain, it can also reach into your eyeballs and impart its DNA supporting wisdom upon the optical lens.

If you are not a fish eater, then a great alternative may be an algae like chlorella.

3. Chlorella

Okay, I had to give it a category of its own here. I bring chlorella everywhere that I travel, when I traveled. I mix it with matcha powder to start every day.

lookslikelittlepeas

Chlorella was green before being green was even a thing.

The reason I love it when traveling is because when traveling the food can be unpredictable. I know that if I have it with me, I am guaranteed some awesome antioxidants to start the day. This, I believe can offset less beneficial food that I may consume later on because lets have some fun right.

By the way, I have been consuming chlorella for almost 12 years now. Korea seems to produce most of the top quality chlorella, while there are other niche or naturally occurring areas that provide chlorella.

4. Matcha

I think I might overuse matcha a little bit because I love it so much. I am just hoping that the L-Theanine will protect my central nervous system in the meanwhile.

5. Berries

This was just the next thing that came to mind and the last one of the list for now. Berries can be so refreshing and sweet.

I love the way that berries can help with normal hydration because they contain water.

I love the way that berries feel in my mouth and all over my tongue.

Make sure to hit the Follow Blog button

Sometimes we need other people to reflect light on to us and that gives us more balance.

I hope that some positive light was reflected upon you while reading this article.

May your gut bacteria reside in harmony with the world.

Sources
Puertollano E, Kolida S, Yaqoob P. Biological significance of short-chain fatty acid metabolism by the intestinal microbiome. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2014;17(2):139‐144. doi:10.1097/MCO.0000000000000025
Pandey KB, Rizvi SI. Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2009;2(5):270‐278. doi:10.4161/oxim.2.5.9498
Cires María José, Wong Ximena, Carrasco-Pozo Catalina, Gotteland Martin. The Gastrointestinal Tract as a Key Target Organ for the Health-Promoting Effects of Dietary Proanthocyanidins. Frontiers in Nutrition.
VOLUME 3, 2017, PG 57
Grosicki GJ, Durk RP, Bagley JR. Rapid gut microbiome changes in a world-class ultramarathon runner. Physiol Rep. 2019;7(24):e14313. doi:10.14814/phy2.14313
Kanakis CD, Tarantilis PA, Polissiou MG, Diamantoglou S, Tajmir-Riahi HA. An overview of DNA and RNA bindings to antioxidant flavonoids. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2007;49(1):29‐36. doi:10.1007/s12013-007-0037-2
Trosvik P, Rueness EK, de Muinck EJ, Moges A, Mekonnen A. Ecological plasticity in the gastrointestinal microbiomes of Ethiopian Chlorocebus monkeys. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):20. Published 2018 Jan 8. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18435-2

 

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11 Diet Tips from the Probiotic Lifestyle: Why Feeding the Gut Microbiome Slows Down Aging and Can Save Your Life from Preventable Disease!

Bio-diversity is essential for human health and evolution!

Even though I can’t prove it, I believe more than 99% of all human diseases can be prevented or managed by nourishing the gut. My personal mission is to help your microbiome become more robust, diverse, and balanced. It will make your life way better and it will also have beneficial consequences for the collective human microbiome (another way of saying our collective health as a species).

Benefits of Diverse Gut Microbiome 

Shreiner et. al provide us with an overview of the evidence to show that a healthy microbiome supports the following:

  • Healthy metabolism, absorption of nutrients, and ability to inhibit tumor growth, particularly in the colon.
  • Microbiota promote immune homeostasis and, “influences immune functions at all levels from the initial innate defense to complex acquired responses.“
  • Use of antiobiotics are associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors. (Measured through plasma TMAO levels or trimethylamine-N-oxide)
  • “Clostridum difficile is a disease that results from critical changes to the gut microbiota and is effectively treated by microbiota-based therapy.”
  • Inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease is related to a lower microbial diversity and a dysbiosis or imbalance of the gut. Treatment by professionals may be focused on increasing the diversity and richness of beneficial micriobial species in the gut and biome.

Good news: The Gut has some plasticity.

By eating a diversity of healthy foods, you will get an abundance of antioxidants, fiber, and other ancient plant wisdom.

“The quality of being easily shaped or molded.”

“The adaptability of an organism to changes in its environment or differences between its various habitats.”

The not so good news: the older you are, the harder it will be.

Why it is harder for people who are older? It is not about your numerical age. It has to do with the fact that years of consuming high glycemic foods that have been stripped of fiber, antioxidants, and other vital essences have allowed undesirable bacteria species to overpopulate.

Furthermore, many people who grew up on cereal and processed foods are going to struggle more to reach their fitness goals later on in life. It’s not fair, at all. There is hope though, so read on.

Undesirable bacteria become squatters that you can’t evict. Once upon a time, they contributed something of value to your system, but now they are leeching nutrients from you and not giving you much back in return. Biologically, these bacteria create bio-films that protect their opportunistic environment inside your gut.

You can degrade these bio-films over time with herbs, enzymes, fermented foods and more (note: Amazon affiliate links). I’ll be covering this in depth in future posts as well.

Here are some general tips to think about when looking to enrich or improve the diversity of your microbiome.

For the pursuit of microbiome enrichment, you may consume the following:

1. Fruit from a tree that is tasty

2. Leaves from a plant that is hardy (kale).

3. Fungi from a birch tree (chaga)

4. Roots that also grow edible leaves (carrots, beets, etc.)

5. Red color leaves (chard), purple color leaves (purple kale), green color leaves (cabbage), and so on.

6. Nuts from a tree

7. Leaves that have been cultured (sauerkraut)

8. Dairy that has been cultured (Kefir, see my kefir post. I’ll be writing an extensive Kefir guide coming up because it is that important).

9. Fruit from trees that is fatty (avocado, olives)

10. Selections from the allium genus (onions, garlic, shallots, chives)

Benefits of onion and related species: full of enzymes, performance enhancing antioxidants, and minerals for blood sugar regulation.

11. Herbs / foods that make you hot or sweaty (peppers)

This should at least be enough to get you started and stimulated with some nutritional ideas.

It is important to note that one size does not fit all with nutrition. You are diverse, therefore you must learn what is best for you.

You can have guidance from practitioners who can support you in this journey. You can also learn from testing and experimenting — be mindful and honest about how your food is affecting you in order to make progress this way.

Stay tuned for more updates!

We’ve had an exciting time around here with a solid one post per day for three days straight! Let’s keep up the momentum.

The people who need us will find us, as long as we keep publishing. I hope you revisit here and join this growing community.

I invoke the powers of will to serve you in your fitness journey.

Sources:

Heiman ML, Greenway FL. A healthy gastrointestinal microbiome is dependent on dietary diversity. Mol Metab. 2016;5(5):317‐320. Published 2016 Mar 5. doi:10.1016/j.molmet.2016.02.005

Davis CD. The Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Obesity. Nutr Today. 2016;51(4):167‐174. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000167

Shreiner AB, Kao JY, Young VB. The gut microbiome in health and in disease. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2015;31(1):69‐75. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000139

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Beyond Logic: Why your Fat Burning, Weight Loss, Nutrition, Health, Eating, and Dieting Goals Must Have a Spiritual Component

If weight loss was as simple as basic arithmetic, calories would be the only information that you needed.

Nutrition is full of layers upon layers from the human aspect to understandings of energy transfer throughout the universe. If fat loss was as simple as calories in vs calories out, humans wouldn’t be facing the unprecedented obesity epidemic of 2020s.

Obesity itself isn’t even the problem. What lies beneath obesity and excess can also be found in normal weight people as well. The problems are:

  • Metabolic disease including diabetes etc.
  • Inflammatory processes dangerously overactive for a period of years. (dysfunction and eventual scarring)
  • Toxic relationships with food and a highly detached and simultaneously capitalistic (exploitative) food supply chain.

You need guidance in order to delay instant gratification and to gain protection from succumbing to the temptations of excess.

Learning how to have a healthy relationship with food is not an isolated activity that one can simply switch on from day to day. It is important to look at food as more than just energy.

I am very interested in the essence of that which we consume. Perhaps you would benefit from a broader definition of energy than just a measure of heat or work done within a period of time.

Because we have our energy needs met, we need to look at food in two ways: as a source of wisdom/information and a source of material to create our cells.

We have an amazing capacity to access the wisdom of food. I’ll give you some examples:

  1. Cooking to make nutrients more bioavailable
  2. Cooking to reduce anti-nutrients such as the lectins on kidney beans (never eat raw kidney beans)
  3. Cooking to kill / deactivate potential pathogens
  4. Fermentation methods to increase the biological value of food (bacteria such as lactobacilli in sauerkraut)
  5. Fermentation to increase enzyme activity (catalysts for biological processes)
  6. Fermentation to deactivate natural plant defenses and/or toxins
  7. And more…

Of course there are many foods that are perfect raw such as avocado or blueberries.

We also have great methods of food preservation in our refrigeration units, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE TO NOT PLAN AHEAD.

One day, you will realize your own natural intuition about food. Until then, you need a plan, framework, or some sort of guiding knowledge to help you make progress through your mistakes.

Here are my own personal reasons to have a spiritual component in my nutrition.

1. At the beginning of the universe, there was darkness and there was light.

If we are to believe the Big Bang theory, then every person likely shares a star as a common ancestor. To say that we came from the stars is basically factual knowledge in astrophysics and quantum mechanics.

In essence, nutrition has far more depth and layers than science can ever show. My goal is to illuminate some of these darker areas in our understanding so that we can make progress forward instead of dying from disease of modern times.

2. Light nourishes us, but it can also burn us, therefore a balance must be sought after.

Energy balance obviously is the key to healthy weight. It is important to accept the offerings of nourishment while also protecting yourself from that which causes disease.

I’ll give you a practical example of protection within nutrition:

Red meat is carcinogenic, but if you eat kimchi with garlic along with it, it is possible to protect yourself from the cancer causing chemicals.

3. Don’t just eat for yourself: Eat for your future generation, eat for your ancestors who never had the opportunity to indulge, and eat for the people around you.

Eating for the future generation is about reducing the risk of intergenerational trauma and helping your children reach their potential. High quality foods containing a variety of antioxidants will help your sperm or eggs maintain integrity.

Eating for your ancestors is honoring the long and arduous journey to get here. And what I mean by here is that we live in an environment of relative food security. In fact, most of us have abundance and excess. Be thankful for these offerings.

Eating for the people around you is about setting a great example and inspiring others. It’s okay to have weak moments because your vulnerabilities should be seen as an advantage. At the same time, when you are capable of strength through healthy nutrition, it will be like a cloud of inspiration that gently sprinkles purity of motivation on those around you.

4. The human spirit may be pure, but without nourishment of the physical body, the output can become corrupt.

In one of my favorite home school classes, we watched Star Wars. The lesson at the end is that while an entity is seemingly pure evil, there is still good inside everybody.

My theory on why so many powerful people have become corrupt is that they lack nourishment. Of course the nourishment they lack could be in the form of emotions or other ways. Just think though, if you are constantly eating processed food, then you will constantly have high inflammation, and then over time parts of your body will begin to degrade, rot, or scar.

I believe many corrupt people have experienced scarring in parts of their brains or nerves from a lifetime of poor nourishment (or anti-nourishment like refined sugar, alcohol, etc). Some of these people will be the crazies you see on the street, while others will be the crazies that you read about in the history books (Hitler comes to mind).

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I believe that deep down, even the spirit of Hitler still had light within.

Nutrition is one very important way that we can protect ourselves from evil forces. Don’t become a Hitler. Eat your vegetables.

5. Everything is interconnected AND the universe is accelerating.

The universe is accelerating, meaning that galaxies are moving away from each other at a faster rate and in some cases maybe moving towards eachother at a faster pace. I see this as a metaphor for humanity and the acceleration of technology.

We are moving faster towards something. Will you sit back, eat junk, and accept your fate?

Or will you take a stand for yourself and fulfill your destiny?

I hope this nourishes your spirit in some way so that you can gain daily motivation towards nutritional enlightenment.

Thank you for reading and stay tuned. Follow the blog, please.

 

 

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Top 5 Raw Honeys for Anti-Viral, Immune Support, Antioxidants, Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes, and More

Real honey has proven therapeutic benefits.

Most people will digest honey well and experience the benefits of it.

Honey is one of the most perfect survival and storage foods as bacteria and viruses won’t be able to grow and honey contains a tremendous amount of energy and nutrients. It has a low moisture content, which keeps it preserved for longer periods of time. Even though you can store it, the nutrient value remains high.

I’ve compiled a list of some of the most powerful honey’s that I have personally consumed, experienced, and rated.

Top 5 Most Beneficial Raw Honey’s for antioxidants, immune support, health, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, micronutrients, phytonutrients:

Let’s just go ahead and start this list!

1. Tualang Black Honey

Did you get sticker shock when you saw the price?

Most people are not accustomed to eating wild food and they might benefit even more from something like this. The darkness of the honey (black) indicates significantly higher antioxidant value than your typical grocery store bought honey. The wisdom of nature is strong in this one. Research has backed this up.

Findings thus far show that, TH has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antitumor, and antidiabetic properties, in addition to wound-healing attributes.

Even though this might be the most expensive honey you buy, no doubt the value is there.

This stuff tastes good to me, but just know that it will be more bitter than the normal honey you might be used to.

2. Manuka Honey

Most people have heard about the topical benefits of manuka honey, but not everybody knows that it is just as healthy to use internally. I used to work at a supplement store years ago and people would come in to buy manuka honey to heal their wounds. More research suggests that it is also great for dental, oral health and so much more.

“Therapeutic Manuka Honey: No Longer So Alternative”

Our results showed that honey, in general, and particularly manuka honey, has potent inhibitory activity against the influenza virus, demonstrating a potential medicinal value

Manuka honey has a pretty smooth texture and taste. It goes great with greek yogurt in my opinion!

3. Marri or Jarrah Honey

These honey’s I’ve listed can be pretty intense. Thick and dark, sweet but subdued. The flavor is unique for sure.

Jarrah and marri honey: A liquid goldrush of medical benefits

Independent testing of jarrah and marri honey in New Zealand in 2016 found that it had stronger antimicrobial properties than the much prized manuka honey

“Diversity is a very good thing because … what we end up with is stronger therapeutic outcomes.”

The good stuff is out there. I hope to bring awareness to it!

4. Wild Oregano Honey

If you’ve been in the alternative or holistic scene for a bit, you’ve probably heard of the benefits of oregano oil for the immune system, but you may not have heard about oregano honey. First off, yes, there is a nice spicy aroma that hits you when you open this jar of honey. It is quite an experience to enjoy the flavors and the immune boosting benefits.

Namely, melanoidins content, phenolic content, electrical conductivity, and mineral content were shown to be positively influencing the gained antibacterial activity.

This is a truly special and unique honey. I personally feel that oregano oil extract is a bit too harsh on my body, so if I can experience the benefits of oregano in a wild/raw food form, then I’m all for it.

5. Black Seed / Cumin Honey

Just like the other honeys, the flavor is intense. The antioxidants are high and the price is a good value considering the benefits.

…[used] as a natural remedy for many disorders like cough, jaundice and gastrointestinal disorders.

There is a common Islamic belief that the black seed is a panacea (universal healer) which is a remedy for all ailments

I really enjoyed this honey and will be buying it again.

Will you let food be your medicine?

I cannot diagnose, cure, or prescribe anything for you… only educate.

I implore you to redefine your view of, “natural / alternative,” health.

We need for “alternative remedies” that actually work for people to go mainstream. Including food such as raw honey into your lifestyle could provide many nutrients that you didn’t even know you needed!

Stay tuned. Follow the blog for updates.

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