Fish Oil for Health

We all need essential fatty acids for optimum health, but most Americans are eating too many omega-6 fatty acids (mainly from vegetable oils), and not enough omega-3 fatty acids (found in oily fish, walnuts and freshly ground flaxseed). This imbalance can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, inflammatory conditions, cancer and other health concerns. While eating several servings of oily fish per week (such as wild Alaskan salmon and sardines) is a start, you may want to take fish oil supplements as well, especially if you're a vegetarian or don't enjoy fish.

Available in liquid or capsule forms, the omega 3’s in fish oil are effective at helping to reduce elevated blood pressure, are beneficial to the nervous system, can help treat mild to moderate depression, and more. Look for capsules or oil that are molecularly distilled and certified free of contaminants.

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.....from Dr. Weil website

Vegetarians - Boost Your Protein

As part of an optimum diet, 20 to 30 percent of your daily calories should come from protein, which amounts to between 80 and 120 grams on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet.

If you are vegetarian and concerned about getting enough protein, one excellent source of vegetable protein is wheat meat (gluten), much used in Chinese vegetarian cuisine. Soy foods are another superior source. Baked tofu in dishes such as fajitas and stir fries has a consistency similar to cooked chicken or turkey and comes in a variety of flavors. In addition to being an excellent source of protein, whole soy foods also contain healthy types of fat and isoflavones - unusual compounds that may offer significant protection against cancer, particularly hormonally driven malignancies such as breast and prostate cancers.

....from Dr. Weil website

RURAL HEALTH AND PESTICIDES.

The US-based Agricultural Health Study (AHS) is the only major long term study on rural health that includes the effects of pesticides on farmers and farm families. Launched in 1994, the study involves over 89,000 people from Iowa and North Carolina.

The goals of AHS are to investigate the effects of environmental, occupational, dietary and genetic factors on the health of the agricultural population. Among other findings to date, researchers have found links between pesticides and prostate cancer, retina degeneration, respiratory effects and lung cancer. AHS findings will be important to any modern farmer and farm community as these studies will explore the health effects of lower, insidious doses od pesticides over a long period.

The AHS study is sponsored by the National Institute of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.


...from, Organic Lifestyles, 2006.

MATCHA GREEN TEA.

Matcha Green tea is one of my favorite drinks, and my favorite green tea is Matcha. Literally “powdered tea,” matcha is a carefully crafted green tea that is whisked with hot water in a bowl to make a frothy beverage. Preparation of matcha is the focus of the Japanese tea ceremony and has a long association with Zen. Matcha is the only form of tea in which the whole leaf is consumed, and because it is made from top-quality leaves that are treated with great care, it delivers more of the healthful elements of green tea than other forms. In addition to providing trace minerals and vitamins (A, B-complex, C, E, and K), matcha is rich in catechin polyphenols, compounds with high antioxidant activity. These compounds offer protection against many kinds of cancer, help prevent cardiovascular disease and slow the aging process. They also reduce harmful cholesterol in the blood, stabilize blood sugar levels, help reduce high blood pressure and enhance the body's resistance to many toxins. Matcha also has a significant amount of dietary fiber and practically no calories. Try substituting matcha for coffee or other caffeinated drink.


from............Dr. Weil website

How Supplements Can Benefit You

While there is ongoing debate over optimal use of supplements and their effectiveness, and while supplements can not take the place of a healthy diet, Dr. Weil recommends them for a variety of reasons:

A good daily multivitamin/multi-mineral supplement can work as insurance against gaps in the diet - for example, to cover those days when you are on the road and simply can't get the fruits and vegetables you need.

The more regularly we supply our bodies with antioxidants and phytonutrients, the better our nutritional requirements will be met on a daily basis, and the better our overall health will be.

Supplements can provide natural therapeutic agents in optimal dosages that may be difficult to obtain from diet alone, and that may help prevent and treat age-related diseases.

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....from Dr. Weil website.