5 Ways to Jump Start Your Day

By Lindsey Little of My Yoga Online

Here are some healthy ways to kick start your day and provide you with long-lasting energy.

1. Drink warm water with fresh lemon juice immediately upon rising. Lemons are a great source of vitamin C and potassium, which provide a significant boost to your immune system. They are also an extremely alkaline food, which is key to successful weight loss and general good heath. Furthermore, lemons help to rid the body of toxins, thereby promoting good digestion and clear skin.

2. If you’re short on time, grab some fruit. Berries are especially high in antioxidants and have a lower sugar content than other types of fruit. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating to allow your body to fully digest the fruit, before eating anything else.

3. If you have 10 or 15 minutes, make a juice or a smoothie. You can put it in your travel mug and drink it on the way to work. Don’t forget to include greens in your juice or smoothie for an extra punch of vitamins and antioxidants.

4. Drink water liberally. Coconut water is also great for hydration. It contains natural electrolytes, similar to Gatorade but without all the added sugar and dyes.

5. Eat leftovers from the night before. Who says you have to eat cereal or eggs and bacon? Heat up some soup on a chilly morning or make a quick salad. Breakfast does not have to be heavy to do its job. In fact, it shouldn’t be. Avoid processed grains, things like bagels, toast, and english muffins. When everyone else hits that 2:00pm slump, you will still have gas left in the tank.

Pill Coatings Interfere With Absorption

Author: Olivia Mungal

Pill coatings, also known as enteric coated pills, have been long believed to protect the stomach, but there is little evidence the coating protects the stomach better than a non-coated pill. Authors of a new study by the University of Pennsylvania found most, if not all of assumed drug resistance cases may actually be caused by pill coatings.

For over a decade, cardiologists and drug researchers have claimed that anywhere from 5% to 40% of the population is “aspirin resistant”. In the study, researchers did not find a single case of true aspirin resistance out of the 400 healthy people who participated in the study. Instead, they found the coating on aspirin interfered with the way that the drug entered the body, making it appear in tests that the drug was not working at all.

These studies question the value of coated, low-dose aspirin. This product adds cost to treatment, without any clear benefit.” said Dr. Garret FitzGerald, chairman of pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Although the study was partially financed by the world’s largest aspirin manufacturer, Bayer, this study leaves many doctors and pharmacologists wondering if enteric coating could be blocking or reducing absorption for other pharmaceuticals and supplements. Bayer claimed there was no difference between the effectiveness of a coated or uncoated aspirin, but Dr. FitzGerald argued there was no reason patients should use anything other than uncoated pills. Taking supplements without binders or coatings may make all the difference.

Omega 3’s Reduce Stroke Risk, Study Shows

Author: chakefaye 
For years researchers have studied Omega-3s and its benefits, with significantly positive results across the board in various studies.
Recent research has revealed that individuals who intake at least five portions of fish weekly have a 13% reduced risk of all types of stroke. Also, individuals who increase their Omega 3 supplementation also benefit from the reduction risk.
During the 12.8 year study, led by Dr. P. Xun, it was discovered that one particular type of stroke, known as ischemic, which is characterized by brain clotting, was reduced by 17% with the same levels of consumption.
“It makes biological sense that fish intake was found to be inversely related to the risk of ischemic [stroke]. It is reasonable to assume that beneficial effect of fish intake on stroke risk comes from the [long chain omega-3] intake.”
It’s important to add at least 3000mg of fish oil supplementation to your daily diet. Aside from reducing your risk of stroke, omega 3’s also help maintain healthy triglyceride levels, normal blood flow and help stabilize cholesterol levels in individuals.

Quick, Easy & Healthy: For the Yogi on the Go

CLA May Reduce Intestinal Inflammation

Author: Olivia Mungal

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is known best for its weight loss properties, but a recent study in the Clinical Nutrition Journal suggests it may also benefit intestinal health. The study, coauthored by researchers at Virginia Tech University, the University of North Carolina, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, indicated that CLA supplementation may help people living with Crohn’s disease manage bowel inflammation.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic immune-inflammatory condition which involves the gastrointestinal tract. Although the causes of the disease remain a mystery, scientists have found evidence of both genetic and environmental triggers resulting in this type of immune dysregulation. Intestinal inflammation is exceptionally painful, but CLA may work to help suppress pro-inflammatory compounds.

Results showed CLA supplementation correlated with drops in certain types of T-cell levels in the blood commonly associated with inflammation. For patients in the study, disease severity as measured by the Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI) was significantly improved, showing a drop in CDAO from 245 to 187 over the 12-week period.

The present study has shed new light on the clinical potential of this compound and provided insights on the possible mechanisms of immune modulation targeted by CLA in the human system” wrote researchers.

Omega-3 May Help Slow Biological Aging

Author: Olivia Mungal
Omega-3 fatty acids are well-known for a bounty of health benefits ranging from cardiovascular health to healthy joints, but according to a study conducted by researchers from Ohio State University, omega-3s may also help to protect your DNA from the effects of natural aging.

The study, published in the Brain, Behavior, and Immunity Peer Review Journal, found that regular omega supplementation for a period of 4+ months could help to slow the biological effects of aging. In the trial, participants took either 2.5 grams or 1.25 grams of active Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids compared against a third group given a placebo. Each omega-3 supplement contained a 7:1 ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

How do cells biologically age?

During mitosis, enzymes in the nucleus duplicate our DNA continuously, replacing old cells in the body with new ones. As we age, our cells are damaged by oxidation and some of our DNA’s nucleotide sequencing is also damaged during this process. Telomeres are a region of repetitive nucleotide sequences that cap the ends of each chromosome and protect them from deterioration or mutation.

Luckily for the human body, our DNA often comes with backup nucleotide sequences and repair mechanisms our cells use if the primary nucleotide sequences are damaged. However, the more oxidative stress experienced by our bodies, our cells become less able to repair and regenerate during cell division, and our telomeres become shorter and shorter as the years of oxidative stress chips away at our DNA’s protective barrier.

Courtesy of christophertims.com

What the study found:

Professor Kiecolt-Glaser led the study, and confirmed regular supplementation with omega-3 reduced oxidative stress by as much as 15% when compared to the placebo group. The researchers found omega supplementation transformed the natural ratio of omega-6: omega-3 fatty acids and preserved the length of the telomeres in each participant’s DNA. As that ratio became lower, the average length of each participant’s DNA-protective telomeres became significantly longer.

Why does this work?

Human beings naturally produce arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 fatty acid which promotes cellular inflammation. EPA inhibits the production and release of AA, lowering the amount of harmful omega-6 fatty acids in the body. Most people simply don’t get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet to achieve a low omega-6:omega-3 ratio, leaving the body and DNA especially vulnerable to oxidative damage.

“The telomere finding is provocative in that it suggests the possibility that a nutritional supplement might actually make a difference” says Ohio State’s Dr. Jan Kiecolt-Glaser.

Vitamin C Affects Eye and Brain Health

Author: chakefaye

For years, researchers have studied the benefits of vitamin C in the human body and have discovered it’s natural ability to fight infections, prevent wrinkles, and reducing the risk of cancer. Now vitamin C is also being look to as a promoter of better eye and brain health in all individuals.
Researchers now believe that vitamin C can potentially prevent failure of both the eye area and the central nervous system. In a study co-led by Henrique von Gersdorff, PhD it was revealed that a lack of vitamin C in one’s diet can be responsible for stopping excitatory neurons in the brain from functioning properly. This lack of transmission between neurons in the brain of humans, could eventually lead to eye diseases such as glaucoma and an slow progressive break down of the central nervous system.
“Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there’s likely an important role for vitamin C through our brains…we found that cells need to be bathed in relatively high doses of vitamin C, inside and out.“
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several conditions including scurvy, depression and epilepsy.  It’s an essential vitamin that the body needs to maintain good overall health and prevent complications related to vitamin C deficiencies. The daily recommended dosage of vitamin C is 90mg daily for men and least 75mg daily at least for women.