Nutri-Care Africa

09/08/2019

9 Amazing Health Benefits of Watermelons

Watermelon is a pretty popular fruit; most people think of it as a great way to stay cool when the weather gets hot. Believe it or not, it’s also a nutrition powerhouse. If you’re looking to live a healthier lifestyle, you should definitely consider making watermelon a part of your diet. It’s really easy to do; in fact, there are quite a lot of ways to prepare watermelon. Still not convinced that this fantastic fruit is the one for you? If you’re on the fence, read about these 9 great benefits of watermelon and see for yourself:
1. Heart Health
Heart health and blood pressure are naturally linked; poor health in the blood vessels will cause the heart to suffer, and conversely, an ailing heart can damage blood vessels. Fortunately, watermelon helps both parts of this equation. While it contains nutrients that improve the strength and flexibility of the blood vessels and arteries, it is also good for the heart itself. This is because of the antioxidants which help to keep the heart’s cells younger and more refreshed. Antioxidants contribute to heart health by limiting the effects of aging wear and tear and other damage that might compromise the heart.
2. Blood Pressure
Thanks to the high levels of potassium and magnesium found in the fruit, eating watermelon regularly is a great way to reduce blood pressure. Potassium helps to balance out sodium in the body; it opens the blood vessels and makes them more flexible. Watermelons, by means of the carotenoids it contains, is also useful in preventing the arteries from hardening. All this means that blood circulation is improved, and the heart does not need to work as hard, which reduces the risk for heart disease. This is especially true in the case of older adults, as proven by various studies.
3. Cancer-fighting
Health nuts have probably heard the term ‘antioxidants’ before; for everyone else, antioxidants are substances often used against cancer or other sources of cell damage. Antioxidants limit the damage done to cells by the oxidative process, which can weaken, mutate, or otherwise cause harm to cells over time. Bad News: As we age, the potential for cell damage grows greater and greater. When damaged cells continue to reproduce unchecked, that’s what we call cancer. Good news: Because of the antioxidants found in it, watermelon helps the body fight cancer by limiting the damage cells receive, keeping them healthy and noncancerous.
4. Weight Loss
It’s clear to see how watermelon can be included in a diet and contribute to weight loss. Once citrulline is converted into arginine by the kidneys, it can limit body fat by preventing more from being created. Since watermelon is so low in calories, and it has no fat of its own, it’s possible to eat a lot and still shed weight effectively. In fact, the calorie content of watermelon is even lower than that of other fruits, making it the superior option. Additionally, the fiber can provide a feeling of fullness, which keeps you from binging on other foods.
5. Kidney Support and Waste Removal
Watermelon can also play a role in the digestive process, thanks to the citrulline found in it. In the kidneys, citrulline is converted into arginine. Because of watermelon’s high-water content (hydration), it is a reliable source of water to flush out the digestive tract. Watermelon can also help the kidneys and liver process harmful toxins and allow urine to pass more freely. When it comes to the matter of waste removal, watermelon facilitates as a diuretic. Additionally, watermelon contributes some level of fiber, which can help with bowel movements.
6. Muscles and Nerves
Along with the secondary performance benefits granted by hydration, watermelon can directly improve the performance of muscles and nerves. There’s an amino acid in watermelon called Citrulline, which boosts blood flow to muscles, which means they get more oxygen and nutrients. Additionally, after a workout, watermelon also helps reduce inflammation and muscle soreness, which makes for a faster recovery. Furthermore, the potassium serves as a regulatory agent for muscle contraction. The bottom line? The regular consumption of watermelon results in a more stable and efficient use of muscles, and a shorter period of recovery, which means a better workout overall.

7. Eye Health
You may have grown up hearing about how wonderful carrots are for eye health, but watermelon is just as beneficial, or even more so. Beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A, is a plentiful resource in watermelon. Vitamin A keeps vision sharp because it protects the surface of the eyes. When taken along with Vitamin C, zinc, and copper (all of which are also found in watermelon) and Vitamin E, watermelon can help prevent eyesight problems, such as night blindness, which typically results from glaucoma, myopia, or retinal problems. It also helps against Macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness.
8. Diabetic Friendly
Among diabetics, watermelon is a thoroughly beneficial food. Because diabetics have a limited ability to produce enough insulin, and/or a limited effectiveness of the insulin they do produce, they are more vulnerable to spikes in blood sugar that can cause serious complications. This drastically restricts the types and quantities of food they can eat, particularly sweet foods. Watermelon, however, is one sweet treat that is still on the menu. Because it is mostly water, it is low in calories. Despite its sweetness, it is safe to consume, even for diabetics. The potassium it provides can also help with insulin production.
9. Hydration
As mentioned earlier, watermelon is typically eaten the most during those hot summer days. There’s a reason for this. As the name implies, watermelon is over 90% water. Drinking water is the best way to keep the body hydrated but eating foods with high water content can supplement this process. Staying hydrated will keep your body cool, clear toxins from your body, and generally improve the performance of many systems, because water helps to transport important nutrients around the body. Your muscles and joints will work better, and your skin will be more smooth and supple. Stay hydrated. Eat watermelon!

05/02/2019

The Pot Belly Syndrome

The ‘kitambi syndrome’ has long been associated with wealth and a good life by most people. On the contrary, having a protruding belly is associated with a lot of diseases. This is what is commonly called obesity. Obesity is a lifestyle disease and is defined as the accumulation of body fat in the body especially in the abdominal region. A normal healthy man should have a fat percentage of between 10%-15% while the females should have a fat percentage of approximately 25-30%. The body mass index (BMI) is more commonly used than body fat percentage in approximating the body weight. This is calculated by dividing weight (kg) by height squared (m). The normal body mass index is between 18 and 25. Individuals with a BMI of less than 18 are underweight while those with a BMI of over 25 are overweight.
Obesity is a very common disease and is putting the public health at a crisis. With industrialization and modernization of the world, obesity prevalence has hit the peak. This has put a very great burden on the governments and even the individuals and the families of the affected persons. A lot of money has been channeled into the management and further research of the disease. People with obesity tend to use more money for medical purposes than non-obese persons. This is due to the fact that a lot of other diseases comes along with obesity. My lecturer often joked that in case you are told to state the complications of obesity just mention all the organs you know in the body. It is literally true that obesity causes almost all diseases. From cancer, heart diseases, brain diseases, musculoskeletal problems among other organs. However, this should not be the case since this is a lifestyle disease and therefore can be prevented by adopting the right lifestyle.
Studies have shown that obesity is caused by a combination of favors including genetics, physical inactivity and poor diet including overeating. Other rare causes include endocrine problems and psychiatric disorders due to social stigmatization. Societal problems such as overreliance on personal cars have also played a role in increasing the prevalence of obesity. However, a sedentary lifestyle plays the biggest role in increasing the chance of being obese. In contrast, many people feel that they should sit in offices with limited movement. This triples the chance of acquiring the disease. Eating sweetened foods rich in carbohydrates greatly contributes to the poor diets. Many people like consuming fast foods and sugary foods such as chips, soft drinks like soda, coffee which may also predispose them to diseases such as diabetes. Lack of vitamin D has also been associated with obesity and related diseases.
The main treatment for obesity involves weight reduction through dieting and increasing physical activities. Proper dieting has been proven to be more effective in managing the condition over a short period of time but it requires a lot of discipline. Taking meals with low carbohydrates and low-fat content is specifically helpful in the management of the condition. Some authorities also believe that intensive behavioral counseling is more effective in the management of obesity with other complications such as atherosclerosis. There are other management modalities such as drug management and surgeries. The most effective drugs for the management of the disease are the statins, for example, the orlistat. However, the most effective medical management of obesity is through a surgery called bariatric surgery.

29/01/2019

To fight fatty liver, avoid sugary foods and drinks: study

In Summary
• Current guidelines call for children who have fatty liver disease to exercise and eat a healthy diet though they do not specify particular foods.
• According to Dr. Joel E. Lavine, an expert, doctors should advise patients and their families to check food labels for added sugars and to avoid or eliminate juices.
• “The best diet, to make it very simple, is to shop the outside aisles in supermarkets and stay away from the middle aisles containing processed foods that come in boxes, cans and packages.”

Overweight children with fatty liver disease sharply reduced the amount of fat and inflammation in their livers by cutting soft drinks, fruit juices and foods with added sugars from their diets, a rigorous new study found.
The new research, published in JAMA on January 22, suggests that limiting sugary foods and drinks may be a promising lifestyle strategy to help alleviate a devastating condition linked to the obesity crisis that is spreading rapidly in adults and children.
An estimated 80 million to 100 million Americans have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which causes the liver to swell with dangerous levels of fat. Roughly seven million of those are adolescents and teenagers.
Fatty liver disease typically has few symptoms, and many people who have it don’t know it.
But fatty liver disease raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and it can progress to a more severe condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, which is a leading cause of liver cancer, cirrhosis and liver transplants.
HEALTHY DIET AND EXERCISE
Current guidelines call for children who have fatty liver disease to exercise and eat a healthy diet though they do not specify particular foods.
But some experts already counsel their fatty liver patients to avoid added sugars, which manufacturers commonly add to heavily processed foods and which are different than the sugars that occur naturally in foods like fruit.
Added sugars are typically high in fructose, which can ramp up the production of new fat when it is metabolised by the liver.
“The current standard of care is very similar to what we would recommend for any child that is overweight,” said Dr. Miriam Vos, an author of the new study and an assistant professor of paediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine.
“Unfortunately, that general recommendation hasn’t improved the disease as much as we would like, and there are no large randomised trials looking at which diet is the best one for fatty liver.”
For the new study, Vos and her colleagues recruited 40 children, about 13 years old on average, who had fatty liver disease.
Most were Hispanic, a group that has a particularly high prevalence of fatty liver disease, with an average of between 21% and 25% liver fat, more than four times the normal limit.
STUDY
The researchers then randomly assigned the children to one of two diet groups for eight weeks.
One group limited added sugars, and the second group of children, which served as the control, remained on their usual diets. They were not given any special instructions to avoid or lower sugar.
To make the diet easier and more practical for the children in the limited-sugar group to follow, the researchers asked their families to follow it as well.
They tailored the diet to the needs of each household by examining the foods they consumed in a typical week and then swapping in lower sugar alternatives.
If a family routinely ate yogurts, sauces, salad dressings and breads that contained added sugar, for example, then the researchers provided them with versions of those foods that did not have sugar added to them.
Fruit juices, soft drinks and other sweet drinks were forbidden. They were replaced with unsweetened iced teas, milk, water and other non-sugary beverages.
Dietitians prepared and delivered meals to the families twice a week, which helped them stick to their programs.
Ultimately, the low-sugar diet was not terribly restrictive. It was not low-carb, nor was it limited in calories. The children could eat fruit, starches and pasta, for example, and they were allowed to eat as much as they wanted.
But the goal was to get their added sugar intake to less than 3% of their daily calories — less than the 5% to 10% limit for adults and children recommended by the World Health Organization.
FINDINGS
After eight weeks, the low-sugar group had gotten their added sugar intake down to just 1% of their daily calories, compared to 9% in the control group. They also had a remarkable change in their liver health.
They had a 31% reduction in liver fat, on average, compared to no change in the control group. They also had a 40% drop in their levels of alanine aminotransferase, or ALT, a liver enzyme that rises when liver cells are damaged or inflamed.
“As a practicing hepatologist, I see children weekly with fatty liver, and I would love to see this kind of improvement in my patients,” said Vos. “The exciting part was not only did the fat go down, but their liver enzymes also improved. That suggests that they also got a reduction in inflammation.”
The new study was funded in part by the Nutrition Science Initiative, a non-profit research group that was co-founded by the science and health journalist Gary Taubes, a proponent of low-carb diets. The National Institutes of Health, the University of California, San Diego, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University also provided funding.
Dr. Joel E. Lavine, an expert who was not involved in the study, said it was cleverly done and demonstrated “some important points about what a major constituent of diet contributes to this problem in terms of liver fat and inflammation and cell injury.”
He said the ubiquity of unhealthy foods makes such a diet difficult to follow, but that as a general rule doctors should advise patients and their families to check food labels for added sugars and to avoid or eliminate juices.
SHOP THE OUTSIDE AISLES
“The best diet, to make it very simple, is to shop the outside aisles in supermarkets and stay away from the middle aisles containing processed foods that come in boxes, cans and packages,” said Lavine.
The members of the low-sugar group lost about three pounds during the study, which may have contributed to their improvements in liver health. But Dr. Jeffrey B. Schwimmer, an author of the study, said it was unlikely to account for the large changes.
“The children on the low sugar diet did lose a few pounds on average, but that amount of weight loss has never been associated with this degree of improvement,” said Schwimmer, a professor of paediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, and the director of the Fatty Liver Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. He and his co-authors are doing follow-up analyses to find out more about what accounted for the liver changes.
“This is a step, it’s not the final word,” Schwimmer said. “But based on this, we would envision studies that look at whether this therapy can actually treat the disease well enough to prevent cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer.”

08/10/2018

DO YOU TAKE LOTS OF SUGAR? THE 10 BAD EFFECTS OF TAKING FOODS WITH LOTS OF SUGAR CONTENT

I Know a lot of posts have talked about sugar intake and its unhealthy effects, but I want to list a clear effects of sugar, especially when consumed too much, here are numbered effects of sugar, share to your family.

THIS EFFECTS INCLUDE
1. Sugar causes blood glucose to spike and plummet.
Unstable blood sugar often leads to mood swings, fatigue, and cravings for more sugar

Cravings set the stage for a cycle of addiction in which every new hit of sugar makes you feel better temporarily but, a few hours later, results in more cravings and hunger.

On the flip side, those who avoid sugar often report having little or no cravings for sugary things and feeling emotionally balanced and energized.

2. Sugar increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Large-scale studies have shown that the more high-glycemic foods (those that quickly affect blood sugar),

Including foods containing sugar, a person consumes, the higher his risk for becoming obese and for developing diabetes and heart disease.

Emerging research is also suggesting connections between high-glycemic diets and many different forms of cancer

3. Sugar interferes with immune function.
Research on human subjects is scant, but animal studies have shown that sugar suppresses immune response.

More research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms; however, we do know that bacteria and yeast feed on sugar and that, when these organisms get out of balance in the body, infections and illness are more likely.

4. A high-sugar diet often results in chromium deficiency.
If you consume a lot of sugar and other refined carbohydrates, you probably don’t get enough of the trace mineral chromium, and one of chromium’s main functions is to help regulate blood sugar.

05/02/2018

THE LINK BETWEEN ZINC and ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

OVERVIEW
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common sexual problems that men deal with. There are a host of different causes of ED that range from nutrient deficiencies to clinical depression. It’s important to talk to a medical professional about ED, in order to determine the cause of the issue before exploring treatment options. That said, erectile dysfunction has been found in recent years to be a symptom of zinc deficiency.
Low levels of zinc can be the cause for a variety of health-related problems. Zinc is a key mineral that cells use to metabolize nutrients. Immune function, DNA and protein production, and cell division are all related to zinc levels in the body. Zinc also enables the male body to produce testosterone. Because of this, your levels of zinc may affect erectile dysfunction.
Despite its importance, many adults do not get enough zinc.

ZINC DEFICIENCY
Zinc is a trace metallic element that occurs naturally in the earth. Certain vegetables, meats, and seafood have more zinc content than others. This makes it fairly easy to obtain zinc through a varied diet. An extreme zinc deficiency is rare in the United States, as most people get some zinc through the foods that they eat. However, when levels of zinc fall below the recommended threshold, problems begin.
Symptoms
Some of the side effects of zinc deficiency include:
• slow growth in children
• trouble fighting off illnesses
• weight loss
• lack of appetite
If not addressed, a zinc deficiency can result in hair loss, eye and skin lesions, and delayed wound healing, among other things. Low zinc is a known culprit in cases of hypogonadism and impotence.

RISK FACTORS OF ZINC DEFICIENCY
Certain groups of people are more likely to have low zinc levels. Conditions that can cause an increased risk of zinc deficiency include:
• gastrointestinal diseases
• eating disorders
• a purely vegetarian or low-protein diet
High levels of alcohol consumption can result in a zinc deficiency. Some medications can reduce zinc levels. These include ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, and stomach acid reducers like Zantac and Prilosec.

ZINC DEFICIENCY AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
A 1996 study showed a very clear relationship between zinc and testosterone levels. Young men were fed a diet including very little zinc so that they developed a zinc deficiency. Testosterone levels were measured and there was a significant decrease (almost 75 percent) after 20 weeks of a low-zinc diet.
The study also examined zinc supplementation in elderly men. Researchers showed that with increased zinc intake, testosterone levels in the elderly population almost doubled. This is pretty powerful evidence that zinc has an impact on testosterone production.
In 2009, animal research was conducted to again test the correlation between zinc and sexual function. Rats that were treated with 5 milligrams per day of a zinc supplement were shown to have better sexual function. This particular study concluded that in males, zinc has a positive effect on arousal and maintaining an er****on.
A 2013 study shows that sense of smell may actually be important to libido, especially in younger men. That means that zinc deficiency, which can reduce sense of smell, may also reduce libido. Zinc not only impacts the level of testosterone, but may cause a loss of the ability to detect subtle chemicals that induce arousal.

TREATING ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Most men who have ED don’t necessarily have abnormal levels of testosterone. Heart disease, diabetes, nervous system conditions, injuries, and stress are more likely to cause ED. But hypogonadism or insufficient testosterone can cause ED in some men. These two problems can be linked back to zinc deficiency.
Testosterone levels decrease naturally as men age, and certain medications can impact testosterone levels. Hyper- or hypothyroidism can impact testosterone and libido. And zinc can have a dramatic impact on testosterone levels in those with zinc deficiency.
Taking zinc in supplement form is just one of many treatments for those looking for help with ED. Many men use supplements either to replace prescription medications like Vi**ra and Cialis, or to enhance the effectiveness of these medications. Some other natural supplements aimed at relieving ED symptoms include Korean red ginseng, L-Arginine, carnitine, and DHEA.
Zinc therapy is slightly different than these other treatments for one crucial reason. Zinc treatments may improve the body’s natural levels of testosterone, provided the patient has a zinc deficiency. Studies are still being performed to provide conclusive evidence on the efficacy of natural supplements to relieve ED symptoms.

ZINC SUPPLEMENTS
For an adult male, 11 milligrams of zinc per day is considered the ideal amount to consume. Women should limit their zinc intake to 8 milligrams per day.
A high-protein diet will usually contain enough zinc. Meats such as beef, pork, lamb, and chicken are all good sources of zinc. Nuts, whole grains, legumes, and yeast also contain zinc.
Zinc supplements are available in multivitamins, or as zinc gluconate, zinc sulfate, or zinc acetate. Zinc orotate is zinc that has been distilled to acid and is considered the most accessible form of zinc for the human body.

ZINC WARNINGS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ingesting levels of zinc in excess of the recommended dietary amount will result in diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. The maximum amount of daily zinc consumption recommended is 40 milligrams per day. Symptoms of too much zinc intake include nausea and headaches. If you have reason to suspect you have ingested too much zinc, contact a medical professional.
The human body only contains 2 or 3 grams of zinc at any given time. Zinc is distributed throughout the body in organs, blood, and bones. It can be difficult to diagnose zinc deficiency. While a low blood zinc level does indicate a deficiency, a normal blood level does not necessarily indicate the absence of a deficiency. And examination of the hair for zinc or a zinc taste test (ZTT) may also be used for supportive evidence in the diagnosis of zinc deficiency.
It’s important to note that high levels of zinc can reduce available copper in the body and affect iron levels. High levels of zinc can also interfere with different kinds of medications. Though it is estimated that 40 milligrams of zinc supplement are safe for men to take daily, there is no long-term research into the effects that this practice could yield.

OUTLOOK
Zinc distributes all over the body, so it’s difficult to test through a blood test. If you have problems with erectile dysfunction or suspect that you might have a zinc deficiency, talk with your doctor. A medical professional will be able to check your testosterone level and determine if using zinc supplements to treat your ED is an appropriate course of action.

Building a Wealth-Healthy Africa;- Motivated by the need to safe life through appropriate Nutrition care by alleviating Lifestyle disorders.

04/10/2017

Five Good Reasons to Eat More Cherries

Cherries contain some unique and pretty awesome bioactive components that can help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other inflammatory diseases—as well as prevent muscle soreness, and help you sleep. Not only that, cherries are an extremely effective treatment for arthritis pain, gout, hemorrhoids, and allergies.
Cherries have boatloads of antioxidants in them that fight free radical damage and protect our cells’ DNA. Free radicals are linked to many diseases including cancer, heart disease, and dementia. Cherries also contain the super-nutrients quercetin, hydroxycinnamates, potassium, carotenoids and melatonin. Even sweet cherries have a healthy low glycemic index of 22, making them a healthy food for people trying to keep their blood sugar stable.
Anti-Inflammatory
Cherries are one of the best anti-inflammatory foods you can eat. These little red powerhouses contain phytochemicals called “anthocyanins” that give them their deep red color. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University found that the powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins in tart cherries were as effective at decreasing inflammation as the anti-inflammatory drugs Ibuprofen, aspirin and Tylenol. Another study published in the Journal of Natural Products showed that anthocyanins and cyanidin isolated from tart cherries worked better than aspirin. And many studies have shown that Tylenol and Ibuprofen can be extremely harmful to the liver and very toxic, so eating foods that are anti-inflammatory is far better for your health.
In fact, cherries can even help your workouts. Cherries have been proven to get rid of the aches and pains from an intense workout. They can actually reduce muscle soreness as well. This study published in Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition looked at cherries’ power to reduce muscle damage and soreness from working out. 54 runners ran a 16 miles race, while drinking tart cherry juice or a placebo. The group drinking the cherry juice reported a significantly smaller increase in pain compared to the placebo group, which was attributed to cherries’ anti-inflammatory effect.
Arthritis and Gout
Over 33 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Arthritis can physically affect the joint, creating friction and lots of pain when the cartilage wears down. In one study done at the Osteoarthritis Research Center with 58 osteoarthritic patients who drank two 8-ounce bottles of tart cherry juice for six weeks, Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores decreased significantly after the tart cherry juice treatment. The WOMAC index is standardized questionnaire used by health professionals to evaluate patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, including pain, stiffness, and physical functioning of the joints.
Gout is another type of arthritis that is extremely painful, usually affecting the big toe. Uric acid crystals build up in the toe joint, causing major inflammation, swelling, redness and serious pain. High uric acid levels in the body can also be associated with diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. A large study of 633 people with gout were treated with cherry extract over a two-day period showing a 35% lower risk of gout attacks. When cherry intake was combined with allopurinol, a prescribed medication for gout and kidney stones, the risk of gout attacks was 75% lower.
Anti-Cancer
Anthocyanins from cherries, especially sour cherries have such strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, they inhibit tumor development in mice and the growth of human cancer cells. On a study done with mice with a genetic risk of colon cancer, a diet of tart cherries and anthocyanins helped prevent colon cancer and tumor growth. This study also showed that these two compounds from cherries reduced the growth of human colon cancer cells as well.
One other study done on humans with cherry extract showed a reduction in the growth of colon cancer cells and human breast cancer cells as well.
Sleep Soundly with Cherries
Cherries also help you sleep more soundly because they are one of the only foods that contain a natural substance called ‘melatonin’. Melatonin is a hormone in the body that regulates sleep cycles and helps you sleep deeply. Tart cherries contain the highest levels of melatonin. It only takes two tablespoons of concentrated tart cherry juice to promote good quality, deep sleep necessary for healing and repair of the body.
Melatonin contains powerful antioxidants that helps reverse aging as well. What’s more, a good night’s sleep helps to reduce cortisol which helps you burn fat better as well! In a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, 20 volunteers consumed either a placebo or tart cherry juice concentrate for seven days. As a result of this treatment, total melatonin content was significantly elevated in the cherry juice group.
Healthy Hearts
Tart cherries can also protect the heart and reduce the risk of strokes. Research done at University of Michigan shows tart cherries activate something called PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activating receptors) in the body. These receptors are connected to glucose and fat metabolism and can help reduce heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. There are prescribed medications that do the same thing, but they come with serious side effects, such as increasing the risk of heart attacks and stroke!
While sweet cherries are effective, tart cherries contain even more of the powerful antioxidants that burn fat, help with muscle aches and soreness and help you sleep more soundly. Enjoy cherries in your next smoothie, on top of your breakfast oatmeal, throw in a salad, or just plain for a sweet, satisfying snack! One of my favorite snacks is frozen organic cherries mixed with raw almonds, and sprinkled with a little bit of cinnamon. Give it a try!
(Mike’s cherry-infused cocktail tip: I have a sour cherry tree in my yard, so I get literally 1000’s of tart cherries every July… My favorite way to use all these sour cherries is to fill a bunch of mason jars with cherries and then add rye whiskey to the top of each jar, so that the sour cherries are infusing in the whiskey. I let the jars sit at least for a couple weeks before I start drinking the cherry-infused whiskey, although many of the jars will soak for months before we get around to beginning to drink them.
Each night after dinner, I like to take 1 shot of the cherry-infused whiskey, add a few shakes of organic digestive bitters, and a splash of sweet vermouth, and enjoy a super-healthy cocktail that’s a healthier version of a manhattan. The antioxidants and natural melatonin get extracted very effectively from the cherries by the alcohol (the cherries become white over time as the whiskey extracts all the phytonutrients) and help you fight inflammation, joint pain, and can help to get me to fall asleep easier from the natural melatonin. I used to have knee pain years ago, but I think this combination of having 1 drink per day of my cherry-infused whiskey and my 1 mug per day of bone broth has completely eliminated my knee pain. My joints have never felt better since I’ve been doing this nightly ritual!)