Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is a dust sized seed found on the stamen of all flower blossoms. The pollen collects on the legs of honeybees as they move from flower to flower looking for nectar. The bees secrete nectar and special enzymes into the flower pollen to create what we know as “bee pollen”. The pollen is usually collected by placing a special device at the entrance of beehives that brushes it from the hind legs of the bees into a collection vessel.

Bee pollen contains an incredible array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, co-enzymes, and hormones. It is especially rich in B vitamins and antioxidants, including lycopene, selenium, beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and several flavanoids. It is composed of 55% carbohydrates, 35% protein, 3% vitamins and minerals, 2% fatty acids, and 5% other substances. Overall, it's one of the most nutritionally complete natural substances found on earth.

When you first start taking bee pollen you may feel a significant increase in your energy right away, definitely within a week or so. Over time the consistent use of pollen will improve your energy, stamina, and endurance. You'll also probably notice a greater feeling of general well-being. Over the long-term, regular consumption of bee pollen will help alleviate many different health problems, slow down the aging process, and improve your quality of life.

Bee pollen has been shown to help people:

• lose weight
• increase energy, vitality and stamina
• enhance the immune system
• relieve allergy and asthma symptoms
• improve sexual function
• correct digestion problems
• slow the aging process
• prevent cancer and other diseases

Bee pollen is one of nature’s healthiest and most powerful “superfoods.” It’s been used as a dietary supplement for thousands of years. The early Egyptian and early Chinese civilizations both used it as a physical rejuvenator and medicine. The Greek physician Hippocrates, recognized as the father of modern medicine, used pollen as a healing substance over 2,500 years ago. Today natural health practitioners often refer to bee pollen as an herbal “fountain of youth” that can be used for everything from weight loss to cancer prevention. It may be nature's most perfect food...

"The conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our national life." ~Theodore Roosevelt

Goji Berry

Goji berry (also known as Wolfberry) have been used for over 5000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). More recently, Goji berry has come to the attention of the Western world, where it's earned recognition as a nutritional superfruit for its richness in anti-oxidants, fibre, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Packed with nutrients like dietary fibre and carbohydrates, the berries are one of the highest plant sources of protein, containing 19 amino acids essential to the human body. They also contain 4 essential minerals, 15 trace dietary minerals, and 3 main vitamins: vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin B, and vitamin C and E ...and that's not all, the berries also contain polyunsaturated fats, such as linoleic (omega 6) and linolenic (omega 3) acids, and flavonoids. To put it all in perspective, the Goji berry contains as much protein as bee pollen, more beta-carotene than carrots, and amounts of vitamin C comparable to citrus fruits!

The following list's a breakdown of benefits for the included nutrients;

• Amino acids are easily used by the body to provide energy or to synthesize other molecules
• Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, and Sodium help to maintain healthy bones and teeth, balance body fluids, and support muscle and nerve function
• Trace minerals, including zinc, selenium, chromium, and iron, support immune, eye and thyroid function, have anti-oxidant properties, help to regulate growth, healing appetite and sugar metabolism, and assist with enzyme action
• Vitamin A supports healthy eyes and bones, and acts as an anti-oxidant. Goji berries are also one of the few foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, pigments which protect the retina by absorbing some of the blue light from the sun that may damage eye tissue
• The B vitamins increase metabolism rates, maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, enhance immune and nervous system function, and promote cell growth and division. Together they also help fight the symptoms and causes of stress, depression, and cardiovascular disease
• Vitamin C supports enzymatic and metabolic functions, and acts as an anti-oxidant
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids are two of the healthy fats, which actually help to reduce the total amount of fat in the blood, helping to prevent high cholesterol, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular diseases
• Flavonoids assist the body's anti-oxidant activity by protecting cell membranes. They also contain anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-microbial properties

All of these different nutrients work together to make Goji berries one of the most powerful anti-oxidant foods. Mother Nature created this whole food power house as a means for supplementing the natural way. You are able to find Goji berries and Goji berry juice at most health food stores.

“Today, more than 95% of all chronic disease is caused by food choice, toxic food ingredients, nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical exercise.” – Mike Adams

#holidayclassic

This weekend I got to experience a holiday classic...roasted chestnuts! It was my very first time, well at least to my recollection. Delicious open roasted chestnuts served in little paper bags, YUM! The taste was a mix between roasted breadfruit and sweet potatoe..oh so perfect to enjoy on a brisk winter day.

The enjoyable treat had me curious of its nutritional facts, here's what I gathered; they're the only nuts that contain a significant dose of vitamin C (up to 1.7mg), low in fat and contain no cholesterol making them great snacks. They also contain trace minerals like manganese, potassium, copper, phosphorus, magnesium and iron.

Like other nuts chestnuts help prevent heart risk and provides energy. They can be prepared by boiling, roasting or soaking them in wine like they do in Italy..who knew. So t'is the season for truly enjoying a #holidayclassic.

In Joy!

Sunny D

It seems that the city is in a state of panic! Concerned citizens line up for hours to get injected, with hope to receive protection from this virus posing threat and disruption to our lives. If only they look up to the Sun and embraces its rays, is one sure way that the immune system can be strengthened and repellent from any foreign virus lurking to destroy. On a sunny day, an estimated 15mins with exposure to the face, arms, hands and back (without sunscreen) is enough to absorb and synthesized into vitamin D. Of course this method is perfect if everyday were sunny.

Supplementing with vitamin D is ideal. Its an easy way to ensure good health through the cold and flu season. Vitamin D has strong antibiotic properties and some studies have indicated that optimal blood levels will prevent the flu far better than a medicinal route (toxic flu shot). The lower the vitamin D blood level, the higher the chance of respiratory tract infections. Commonly, people become sick with colds and flus during the winter. Some physicians suggest supplementing with 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day and even to prevent from the H1N1 (swine) flu. Tests have found no toxicity issues with ongoing supplementing, so it is safe. There have been High Dose Vitamin D Therapies for chronic diseases, up to 50,000 IU daily.

So we can see vitamin D plays more roles to the body other than the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, with functions including the maintenance of healthy bones. Any formula aimed for the immune system should also include vitamin A, beta carotene (provitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin B6 and zinc.

"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." - Voltaire