G-BREAKFAST: QUINOA, AVOCADO AND EGG

This quick, satisfying breakfast is loaded with anti-inflammatory foods: extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, tomatoes, quinoa,  black beans, olives and organic farm fresh eggs.

For even more anti-inflammatory antioxidant benefits – during your day have some bilberries or blueberries an hour before and or after your meal and don’t forget to hydrate, take your walk and get a good nights rest.

Organic farm raised eggs come from hens that see the sun in open grassland and eat a diet rich in the foods they evolved to eat – bugs and worms and are never given antibiotics and hormones.

The first things you will notice when you crack open your first organic egg – it has a darker/richer yolk color and the taste, amazing!

USDA organic eggs are easy to find; just look closely at labels on egg cartons the should say certified organic on them or better yet, look up a local farmer and go with your children to visit the farm and pic up a dozen just laid eggs.

My – G breakfast recipe calls for cooked quinoa (white – golden -red) (Bob’s Red Mill Organic is a great option) — or pick up a time-saving package of precooked organic (unseasoned) quinoa in the freezer section or the grains aisle of your supermarket as more and more manufacturers are offering this convenience.

How To Make It

Step 1

Whisk together 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, and ingredients of your choice with some lemon.

Step 2

Combine quinoa, tomatoes, beans, cilantro, a few olives; toss gently to combine. Divide mixture evenly between 2 bowls.

Step 3

Heat a non-toxic 100% PFOA free skillet (no Teflon coating). Add 1/2 teaspoon oil; swirl to coat.

Crack eggs, 1 at a time, into pan. Cover; cook until whites are set and yolk is still runny, 2 to 3 minutes and slide them over the quinoa and vegetable mixture of tomatoes, olives, beans and avocado with a splash of olive oil and lemon. Add a garnish and or yes even some hot sauce, and or additional cilantro and fresh lemon.

This will become one of your favorite breakfast – I served this to many of my guests who visited me in Coconut Grove Florida  

NATURE GOT IT RIGHT

AVOCADO AND TUNA TAPAS

INGREDIENTS

For the Greek Vinaigrette
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
For the Salad
  • 4 cups roughly chopped ripe tomatoes, I used cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cups roughly chopped cucumbers, I used persian cucumbers
  • 2 red or yellow peppers, cut into chunks
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces feta, drain and crumbed
  • Large Avacago

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the salad dressing. Season extra lemon
  2. In a large bowl. combine all of the vegetables and gently toss together. Pour the Greek vinaigrette over the vegetables, and again, gently toss to coat them. Crumble the feta over the salad and then very gently toss the cheese into the vegetables.
  3. Serve immediately at room temperature, or chill before serving.

HEART HEATH

Gerald J Joseph Diet

by Gerald J. Joseph, B.S., M.Ed HealthCoach 

Heart disease

Health disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States today and about one in four Americans die from the disease every year. This adds up to about 610,000 individuals. In addition, 735,000 people have heart attacks each year.

Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease is a class of diseases that involve the heart, blood vessels and includes coronary artery diseases such as angina and myocardial infarction, called a heart attack. Coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease involve atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis

In 1948, researchers under the direction of the National Heart Institute (now called the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute) initiated the Framingham Heart Study, the first major study to help understand heart disease.

In 1949, the term “arteriosclerosis” (known as “atherosclerosis” today) was added to the International Classification of Diseases, which caused a sharp increase in reported deaths from heart disease.

Unfortunately, the results of this major study were misinterpreted and as a result, medical doctors and nutritionists place far to much value on reducing total fat intake, and not on small particle LDL and did take into account the role good fat play on health. While saturated fats and trans fats are indeed linked to heart disease, we now know is that fat, especially plant=based fat is actually good for heart health.

Unsaturated fats actually help reduce cholesterol in the body while boosting HDL levels and overall heart health. A diet high in fatty acids from omega-3 fatty acids from sources such as fish, eggs, coconut, olive oil, raw nuts and seeds are part of an overall wellness program that will help prevent and in some cases begin to reverse heart disease.

Genetics 

There are some genetic factors that contribute to heart disease but it is largely attributed to environment, over consumption of animal proteins, poor gut bacteria, inflammation,  lack of activity and poor lifestyle habits such as smoking and alcohol abuse. When looking deeper into the root causes of cardiovascular disease we must first exam the past and ask the question, why does man develop cardiovascular disease and why did man thousands of years ago also develop cardiovascular disease?

Lets look at Egypt?

In 2009 American Heart Association meeting in Florida, researchers presented study which  result showed that Egyptian mummies, some 3,500 years old, had evidence of heart disease — specifically atherosclerosis, which narrows the arteries. Pharaoh Merenptah, who died in the year 1203 BCE, was plagued by atherosclerosis. Nine of the 16 other mummies studied also had evidence of the disease.

Study results are appearing in the Nov. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) at the Scientific Session of the American Heart Association at Orlando, Fla.

Atherosclerosis is ubiquitous among modern day humans and despite differences in ancient and modern lifestyles, we found that it was rather common in ancient Egyptians of “high socioeconomic status” individuals living as much as three millennia ago, says UC Irvine clinical professor of cardiology Dr. Gregory Thomas, a co-principal investigator on the study. “The findings suggest that we may have to look beyond modern risk factors to fully understand the disease.”

When we look at ancient hunter-gatherers, scientists also noted that they also suffered from clogged arteries, revealing that the plaque build-up causing blood clots, heart attacks and strokes was also debilitating man thousands of years ago.

“This is not a disease only of modern circumstance but a basic feature of human aging in all populations,” said Caleb Finch, USC University Professor, ARCO/ Kieschnick Professor of Gerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, and a senior author of the study. “Turns out even a Bronze Age guy from 5,000 years ago had calcified, carotid arteries,” Finch said, referring to Otzi the Iceman, a natural mummy who lived around 3200 BCE and was discovered frozen in a glacier in the Italian Alps in 1991.”

How could this be possible?

Researchers theorized that diet could be involved. High-status Egyptians ate a lot of fatty meats from cattle, ducks, and geese, and used a lot of salt for food preservation. Beyond that, the study brought up some interesting questions and has prompted scientists to continue their work to fully understand the condition. “The findings suggest,” said co-principal investigator on the study and clinical professor Dr. Gregory Thomas, “that we may have to look beyond modern risk factors to fully understand the disease.”

Mechanism of Action

Atherosclerosis can start very early in life, kids can have little bumps on their arteries and even stillbirths can little tiny nests of inflammatory cells. Studies show that environmental factors can accelerate heart disease showing larger plaques in children exposed to household tobacco smoking or who are obese.

So some say genetics, some say the environment and some say it is a combination of the two with more weight on the environment.

Bacteria & Cardiovascular Disease

What is it to be human?

The facts are, only 10% of the cells in our body are human!

Research has determined that we share our life with around 100 trillion organisms, which comprise something called our microbiome. For every one of our cells, there are 10 microbial cells living on or inside our body, helping us to perform life-sustaining functions that we couldn’t perform without their help.

Our dependence on the microbiome within us has led many experts to observe that we are truly more of a super-organism than simply human.

Gut Bacteria

Git bacteria in your gut can play a role in heart disease. New research shows that choline, a nutrient found in foods like egg yolks and fatty meats, produces the by product TMAO when digested. TMAO is known to promote plaque accumulation in the arteries causing heart disease.

“Dr. Hazen explains, “Bacteria that live in our intestines play a role in the digestion of certain types of food to form the compound TMAO, which promotes the accumulation of plaque in the arteries.”

Participants in the study were asked to eat two hard-boiled eggs and take a choline capsule. Results showed that TMAO levels in the blood increased after ingesting the eggs and the capsule. And when participants were given antibiotics to suppress their gut flora, their TMAO levels dropped. This illustrated how important gut flora is to the formation of TMAO.

Here is the problem with the study; they used “hard boil eggs, and synthetic choline. Eggs yolks from organic eggs that are consumed with a runny yolk are a great source of fatty acids, but when cooked it changes the chemistry of the eggs making them less healthy

Lecithin

Lecithin is known for helping to prevent arteriosclerosis, protecting against cardiovascular disease, improving brain function, facilitating repair of the liver and promoting energy. Lecithin is a fat emulsifier. It enables fats such as cholesterol to be dispersed in water and removed from the body. It also protects vital organs and arteries from fatty buildup. Most commercial lecithin is derived from soy.

The best food source for consuming lecithin is egg yolks. Part of the controversy surrounding eggs and cholesterol revolves around the lecithin content of the egg yolk. Since egg yolks are an excellent source of lecithin they are considered beneficial in reducing cholesterol only if the cooking method preserves the lecithin content. Cooking at high temperatures denatures or destroys the lecithin.

This means that any form of cooking that results in runny yolks preserves the lecithin and makes the egg beneficial in reducing cholesterol. Egg yolks cooked solid do not have the same benefit. Documented health benefits of lecithin includes the following.

Lecithin helps to prevent and treat atherosclerosis by lowering total cholesterol, lowering triglycerides, lowering LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. Lecithin reduces the risk of gallstones and in some cases has reduced the size of existing gallstones.

Lecithin helps to repair liver damage caused by alcohol consumption. Lecithin also helps psoriasis that is related to faulty fat metabolism. Lecithin is critical in the body’s ability to utilize the fat soluble vitamins A, D, K, and E. Adding lecithin to your diet could help with utilization of any and all of these essential vitamins. Lecithin is an important component of brain and nerve tissue. It is particularly concentrated in the myelin sheaths that serve as the protective coating of the nerves.

Lecithin helps to prevent age associated memory impairment and may prevent further deterioration of mental function in Alzheimer’s patients.Parts of the lecithin family are becoming popular health supplements. These are phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine. While phosphatidylcholine has primarily the same benefits as lecithin, phosphatidylserine has tremendous brain and nerve benefits.

These include alleviating dementia and early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Phosphatidylserine also improves memory, attention span and learning ability. Another benefit of phosphatidylserine is that it reduces excessive release of the stress hormone cortisol.

Currently there is strong evidence to support the role of systemic inflammation in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

In the End

Heart health starts and stops by consuming foods that our body co-evolved to consume which include high plant-based foods, root vegetables, whole fruits, nuts and seed, low amounts animal proteins, dairy and grains, daily movement, hydration, and a dash of love.

References 

Amano A, Kuboniwa M, Nakagawa I, Akiyama S, Morisaki I, Hamada S. Prevalence of specific genotypes of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA and periodontal health status. J Dent Res. 2000;79:1664–8. [PubMed]

Hu F.B., Stampfer M.J., Rimm E.B., Manson J.E., Ascherio A., Colditz G.A., Rosner B.A., Spiegelman D., Speizer F.E., Sacks F.M., et al. A prospective study of egg consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease in men and women. JAMA. 1999;281:1387–1394. doi: 10.1001/jama.281.15.1387. [PubMed][Cross Ref]

Qureshi A.I., Suri F.K., Ahmed S., Nasar A., Divani A.A., Kirmani J.F. Regular egg consumption does not increase the risk of stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Med. Sci. Monit. 2007;13:CR1–CR8. [PubMed]

Nakamura Y., Iso H., Kita Y., Ueshima H., Okada K., Konishi M., Inoue M., Tsugane S. Egg consumption, serum total cholesterol concentrations and coronary heart disease incidence: Japan public health center-based prospective study. Br. J. Nutr. 2006;96:921–928. doi: 10.1017/BJN20061937. [PubMed][Cross Ref]

Handelman G.J., Nightingale Z.D., Lichtenstein A.H., Schaefer E.J., Blumberg J.B. Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in plasma after dietary supplementation with egg yolk. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1999;70:247–251. [PubMed]

GUT HEALTH

Gerald J. Joseph, B.S., M.Ed HealthCoach 

Chronic Gastrointestinal Inflammation:

Chronic disease syndromes like heart disease, type II diabetes and obesity are preventable and in most cases reversible by modifying lifestyle changes and increasing activity such as by walking. Stabilizing blood sugar through nutritional changes is the first step to improve your gastrointestinal track, immune system and brain health.

We do this by reducing refined sugar, all grains, reducing and eliminating altered animal/dairy/fowl proteins intake which feeds opertuneitsc “bad” bacteria that increase gut inflammation.

Gut Health

70-80% of your immune tissue can be found in our digestive system? This means that proper immune system functioning relies heavily on a healthy gut flora. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, the gut microbiota (bacteria) found in our gut is critical for regulating our immune systems. They also explain that if there is an disruption to this bacteria, this can cause immune dysregulation which could lead to autoimmune disorders!

My co-evolutionary nutrition recommendations are designed as an anti-inflammatory, fatty acid diet and is not considered a restrictive diet, to Ketogenic diet and both the immune and digestive systems send signals through the blood system, which directly affects brain health.

Synthetic Chemicals

By reducing industrial synthetic chemicals found in food sources such as pesticides, eliminating hormones such as estrogens, testosterone (DES, rBGH) found in livestock consumed, eliminating all highly processed foods with added sugars, sodium,  trans-fats (including partially hydrogenated vegetable oils),  and alcohol, is the first step to reducing gastrointestinal inflammation, stabilizing blood sugar, improving the immune system and feeling fantastic.

Grains

The first step to improving gut health includes increasing water intake, and eliminating grains from the diet because of the inflammatory nature of grains and because of their ability to increase blood sugar. Grains today have been hybridized, crossbred and genetically modified making them raise blood sugar at an alarming rate. Grains also were only introduced into man diet about 15,000 years ago, far to short a time for man to have co-evolved with the grain.

Gastrointestinal inflammation

Gastrointestinal inflammation-can include esophagitis, gastritis, colitis – all GI inflammatory diagnoses are named for different parts of the digestive tract that involved area,  and large numbers of white blood cells which are present to counter a perceived threat to the body.

Gastrointestinal inflammation can cause swelling, redness, tenderness, and irritation, while extreme inflammation can form lesions, which may bleed. Individuals with gastrointestinal inflammation may notice symptoms like mucus and blood in the stool, loss of appetite, and abdominal discomfort.

A study published in the 2007 edition of Nature Immunology concluded that allergic and inflammatory diseases may actually trigger autoimmune diseases caused by self-reactive antibodies produced by B cells.

Gastrointestinal inflammation is a symptom of a body in distress triggered by years of consuming high amounts of sugar, grain and animal protein foods which may also contain heavy in metals like mercury, and not consuming enough live plant-based foods which essentially causes you to become malnourished even though you are consuming large amounts of calories.

The Good News 

The good news is that gut health can be improved very rapidly by simple increasing the consumption of clean sources of water, increasing a variety of high plant-based fibrous foods such as vegetables, root vegetables, legumes, whole fruits, bulbs, nuts and seeds, you must eliminate grains, dairy, animal proteins, and by rotating foods. Deep sea water omega-3 fatty acid fish and organic farm fresh whole eggs including the yolk are also excellent gut and brain food.

The good news is really good news because if you make these simple nutrition lifestyle changes and walk a few measured miles a day consistently, (at least 5000 steps a day) you will in no time at all start losing weight, stabilizing blood sugar, the increased fiber will add amazing pre-biotic bacteria into you gut along with no sugar, grain and alcohol, your tummy and life will change for the better.

Unfortunately even advanced centers of medicine fail to draw the connection to the facts that foods can harm the body and yes they can heal the body too. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MARATHON

Before you hit the ground running, fueling your body will be the foundation to any successful workout. It’s any lifter’s worst session when they hit the wall – glycogen stores depleted and muscles starved for nutrients. To be on top of your lifting game, you have to feed your body with the right foods both pre – and post-workout.

As usual, complex carbs, protein, and fat will be in your arsenal – just waiting for you to pull the trigger to work out. And getting creative with a post-workout meal will be in the cards, to push aside those boring protein shakes on occasion.

Before you hit the ground running, fueling your body will be the foundation to any successful workout. It’s any lifter’s worst session when they hit the wall – glycogen stores depleted and muscles starved for nutrients. To be on top of your lifting game, you have to feed your body with the right foods both pre – and post-workout.

As usual, complex carbs, protein, and fat will be in your arsenal – just waiting for you to pull the trigger to work out. And getting creative with a post-workout meal will be in the cards, to push aside those boring protein shakes on occasion.

GREEK VILLAGER’S SALAD

INGREDIENTS

For the Greek Vinaigrette
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the Salad
  • 4 cups roughly chopped ripe tomatoes, I used cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cups roughly chopped cucumbers, I used persian cucumbers
  • 2 red or yellow peppers, cut into chunks
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces feta, drain and crumbed
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • On the side, cup of humus & olives

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper and set it aside.
  2. In a large bowl. combine all of the vegetables and gently toss together. Pour the Greek vinaigrette over the vegetables, and again, gently toss to coat them. Crumble the feta over the salad and then very gently toss the cheese into the vegetables.
  3. Taste and adjust for more freshly ground black pepper if desired. Serve immediately at room temperature, or chill before serving.

YOGA IN THE MORNING

Ever wonder how every yoga instructor you meet has more energy than Jess on New Girl, even at a 7 a.m. class? Yeah, coffee (or green tea) may play a role, but caffeine isn’t the only explanation. The secret is, well, yoga.

We were skeptical when certified yoga instructor Brett Larkin told us too. But she says her 15-minute, a.m. routine centers the mind, balances the body, and jolts you awake with more lasting energy than an any coffee drink can provide.

Even on those mornings when you can barely drag yourself out of bed (we’ve been there), come to your mat—or simply your living room rug—for this sequence that anyone can do (no experience or toe-touching flexibility required!). Not only do these feel-good poses perk you up, but they’ll also open your hips, stretch your shoulders, and lengthen your spine. The result: You’ll walk away feeling centered, focused, and ready to own the day.