Ah, the scent of a flower, the sight of a sunset, the sound of the ocean. The taste of fresh fruit…the touch of a loved one. Your senses – smell, sight, hearing, taste and touch – are your tools to experience the external reality on this planet, and while you may not think twice as you use them daily, you would definitely notice if one of them were impaired.

We first touched on (pun intended) the senses and their importance in our Conscious Mental Feeds: A Detox for Your Mind article. Now, we want to delve deeper into and beyond the senses, to bring you a better understanding of the purpose of these tools. Yes, they are the key to perceive the world around us. And they do a great job. Our brains receive sensations from external stimuli via sensory neurons or receptors, of which there are various kinds based on the type of energy being detected. There are mechanoreceptors (measure touch, movement and sound), chemoreceptors (respond to taste, smell and more specific chemical processing), and electromagnetic receptors (detect visible light, electricity and magnetism). There are also pain and temperature receptors. These amazing receptors can detect the most minute units of stimulus possible – a quantum of light, a single molecule of odorant, the movement of only a few angstroms – all to build the most complete  idea for you, allow for your survival and help you “experience life to the fullest.” Truly remarkable capacity – the senses are fine instruments that should be approached with awe and the utmost care.

Our brain translates the information gathered from receptors and turns it into perceptions. These perceptions – color, scent, sound, taste – are created by the brain, and they only exist within the construct of the brain, not outside of it. We don’t have to tell you how important the stimuli – in the form of images, language, food, and all of the things you “take in” – are in terms of the type and quality of perceptions that your brain will generate. Be careful what you take in, for you’re creating your own internal reality – in your mind.

These are the senses belonging to your physical body. But you also have what you could call metaphysical senses and these allow for a deeper level of understanding, a connection to an internal reality far more vivid than that your brain could ever create. According to Book One of El Ser Uno, these are our Energetic Senses, a part of our Energy Body or what we call “spirit”. The purpose of these senses is to nourish the spirit, and to help it develop (for more on the soul and the development of the spirit, read this article.) The book explains that each material sense has a corresponding energetic sense. These are as follows:

• Sight ——- Dynamic Imagination

• Hearing —- Immediate Perception

• Smell ——- Numerical Intuition

• Taste ——- Energetic Nourishment

• Touch —— Infinite Sensibility

We will let you investigate what each of these might entail. But we’ll leave you with this: It is through these internal senses and not the external ones that we are to elevate as spiritual beings. The material senses and the electro, mechano, and chemical illusions that our brain creates are only a fantasy, to be used by us in navigating the material world. They can create  a dream or a nightmare – you choose. If we are conscious and healthy, we will not distort or abuse these brain signals, we will instead take care of them with quality food, positive visuals and the right words. But they are easily corrupted, as is anything that has to be a part of the material experience, especially in today’s fast-paced sensory-overload environment. Feed them natural information and they are more likely to keep you healthy and balanced.

The inner senses, however, once awakened…are your connection to the real Universe – forever.

The Endocrine System might just be my favorite body system because it is in charge of communication. The hormones secreted by the endocrine glands tell everyone else what to do and when to do it (bossy glands!) But this is just one aspect, one reason why I like it. The other is that it corresponds exactly with the traditional chakra system.

Science first: The Endocrine System is composed of glands that release hormones into the blood, which tell the various organs in our body what to do or stop doing (we got this). Let’s look at the major glands and their jobs:

The Pineal Gland: This might be my favorite gland within my favorite system. The pineal gland is the coolest of them all because it is magical and otherworldly. In other words, science doesn’t really know everything about how it works yet. What we do know is that it is in charge of biorhythm, or what we call the Circadian Rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is your internal clock – it tells you to wake up at 6 a.m., have a bowel movement at 8 a.m., be hungry by 10 a.m., have lots of energy by noon and then be hungry again and then around 3 p.m., get sort of tired, get a second wind, be hungry again and then be tired by 10 p.m.  Yes, your body runs on a schedule.  How closely do you match the average normal biorhythm? I’d venture to say it’s a sign of health if you’re right on schedule with pineal directives. So, how does the pineal gland do this? It takes its orders from a “higher” source: The sun. Light and dark cycles are what control the pineal gland and tell it what to do, so it can tell you what to do. You know how you feel depressed and low energy – sleepy, if you will – during an overcast day when “the sun doesn’t come out”?  Shake your fist at the pineal gland – it’s telling you, it’s time for bed, silly, not work! Can’t you see it’s still night time?  Duh. The pineal gland is tiny and it is nuzzled in the center of your brain.

The Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus is kind of another mystery. It is also located in your brain and we don’t know much of how it works, except that it links the nervous and the endocrine systems and it produces hormones that have to do with the next guy we’ll be talking about. We also know that it plays a role in mating: In many vertebrates, the hypothalamus has been shown to pass info about seasonal changes and availability of a mate. Kinda like a wingman.

The Pituitary Gland: The pituitary is located just under the base of the brain, between your two frontal lobes, where it hangs with the hypothalamus. They’re like buddies, brothers, homies, and, in this case, the pituitary is the extrovert and better known of the team. The pituitary gland is sometimes called “the master gland” because it has a lot of other glands under its command and it gives out orders all over the place like there’s not tomorrow: The posterior pituitary releases hormones made by the hypothalamus. One of them is oxytocin. You heard of it, eh? Probably not because it is involved with the mammary glands, but because it stimulates contraction of the uterus, therefore playing a role in female orgasm and earning its name as the “cuddling hormone”, because it is also involved in making pair bonds, the feeling of attachment to a partner after sex (now you’ve heard of it?) The posterior pituitary also releases antidiuretic hormone, which promotes water retention in the kidneys. The anterior pituitary has even more responsibilities – it’s growth hormone (another popular guy, hailed as the new fountain of youth) stimulates growth – especially of bones – and metabolic functions; prolactin stimulates milk production and secretion when a woman has a child; follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates production of ova and sperm; luteinizing hormone stimulates ovaries and testes; thyroid-stimulating hormone (you can guess it’s job) and adrenocorticotropic hormone, which stimulates the adrenals to secrete glucocorticoids. Whew! I know, it’s exhausting! Bow down to the master.

Thyroid and Parathyroid: Your thyroid gland stimulates and maintains metabolic processes and lowers blood calcium levels via a hormone appropriately called calcitonin. The parathyroid balances it out: It secretes the also appropriately called parathyroid hormone, which raises blood calcium levels.

Thymus Gland: Your thymus gland is special. It is not pictured above but it is located in the center of your chest cavity, close to your heart. It is involved in your Immune System. The thing about the thymus is this: When you’re a kid, it is quite large. After puberty, when a whole lot of things change for you and your body and when your immune system is well established, it begins to shrink. By adulthood, most of the thymus gland has been replaced by tissue, but it continues to work throughout life.

The Adrenal Glands: Famous for the fight or flight response via adrenaline (real name: epinephrine) and norepinephrine, hormones that raise blood glucose levels, increase metabolic activities and constrict certain blood vessels so that you can run away from that saber tooth tiger or punch your boss when he turns into one (in your head). The adrenal cortex also has two other hormones, the steroids glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which raise blood glucose levels and promote reabsorption of sodium and excretion of potassium in the kidneys, respectively.

The Pancreas: You also know this guy (especially if you have diabetes) – he’s in charge of insulin and glucagon, proteins that control blood glucose levels.

The Sex Glands: The gonads (testes) and the ovaries (ova). Your favorite guys, where androgens support sperm formation and promote development and maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics, and estrogens and progesterone stimulate uterine lining growth and promote development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics. Without these glands and their hormones (who get their orders from hormones in the pituitary), we wouldn’t be able to give life.

Now, for the metaphysics: If you look at the picture above, you will notice the fascinating  correspondence between some of the major glands (thymus, for example) and the chakras (heart chakra in green, for example), the energy vortices in your body. Coincidence? I don’t believe in them. I believe we are built in a way for a reason. It makes sense that the energy centers of our body, the places esoteric books say are where information comes in and goes out of to and from the Universe, would be located exactly where the communication centers of our physical body are. We’re holistic beings – mind, body, soul/spirit. You do the math. I’ll leave you with just this one thought: The more you take care of your endocrine system via good nutrition (many of the hormones are classified as proteins and amines and all of them are directly affected by what you eat and drink), a decent sleep cycle, exercise, and proper stress management, the more “clean” and connected you may be to that crucial information that mystics say comes from your chakras. And, the more balanced you are energetically, well, the healthier you will be all around. After all, that is the core of this material masterpiece you call your body.

]]> http://hlifemedia.com/2010/06/the-endocrine-system-the-great-communicator/feed/ 4 http://hlifemedia.com/2010/06/alkalinity-vs-acidity/ http://hlifemedia.com/2010/06/alkalinity-vs-acidity/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:24:53 +0000 Maryl Celiz http://hlifemedia.com/?p=5284

We often hear that an alkaline body is a healthy body and an acidic body is a disease-promoting environment. But do you know what this means? Being aware of the delicate pH balance of our bodies is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. This is directly affected by the foods we eat. Let’s explore how.

When it comes to the body and nutrition, it’s really all about the cell. The cell has to do a job, which is to keep us alive by providing us with energy to do what we need to do. The thing is, in this energy-generating process, the cell also creates waste byproducts. This is where pH comes in. The natural pH of blood is 7.365, but cellular byproducts are lower than that, what we would call acidic. Refreshing our memories from chem lab in school: The pH scale goes from 1-14, with 1 being the most acidic and 14 the most alkaline or “basic”.  A pH of 7 is considered neutral. At 7.365, the healthy pH of our blood is slightly alkaline, while cellular byproducts are the opposite. Here is where our role in helping balance this out comes in – and the importance of food in this process.

According to Dr. Robert Young, a microbiologist and pioneer in alkalinity research, the problem with obesity and derivative diseases in this country is that “it’s not that we’re overweight, it’s that we’re over acid”.  As Dr. Young explains in his book, The pH Miracle, the acid that is a natural waste product of cellular respiration needs to be eliminated through urination, defecation, perspiration and respiration in order for us to stay healthy. If we cannot eliminate the acid, it stays in our bodies in the form of body fat. Why fat? Because acid is corrosive and toxic to us, both internally and externally, and in order to keep our internal environment from becoming damaged with this acid that is not being eliminated (acid burns the skin, so you can imagine what it would do to our internal tissues and organs), fat molecules come to the rescue and sort of “trap” the acid molecules so they won’t “burn” us, and then these fat and acid (toxins) bundles take up residence in various peripheral areas of our bodies, such as our hips, stomachs, butts, etc…

Young and other researchers who swear by life blood analysis, it is an overly acid body that is the perfect environment for the development of cancer, obesity and yeast overgrowth, among other diseases. Corrosive thoughts that generate stress as well as a diet high in acid-forming foods and low in alkaline-forming foods that help “cleanse” or balance the blood, and even acidic water are the culprits. Water is supposed to have a neutral pH of 7, but as it is “processed” to get to us at the grocery store, it may become acidic (you’ve heard of acid rain, haven’t you? Same concept, only the acidity in the rain comes from our sadly polluted cities.)

When it comes to food, knowing which ones will generate acid and which ones will be alkaline in your body is a must. Following is an example of some foods and how they effect the pH balance of your body, so that you can start to get an idea of how what you eat reacts in your body.

Acid-forming foods include:
- Sugar
- Meat
- Shellfish
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Processed and refined foods
- Dried fruits
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Chocolate
- Sodas
- White and wheat breads
- Carbonated water
- Acidic water

Alkaline-forming foods include:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Good fats
- Seaweed
- Avocado
- Limes
- Lemons
- Grapefruit
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Watermelon

See any patterns here? Veggies and fruits top the alkaline list, while meat, dairy, and processed foods top the acid list.  Still, this is a rough list. The pH scale is a range, and each foods falls on a different spot on the scale. In other words, some foods can be slightly alkaline-forming, while others are very alkaline-forming. The same goes for acid-forming ones: some, like beans, are slightly acid-forming and closer to neutral, while sugary drinks like sodas are way acidic. Keep this in mind when planning meals, and be sure to check out this more detailed list of alkaline/acid foods.

For those of you being exposed to the idea of body pH for the first time, but who are familiar with the glycemic index, this may be helpful. Dr. Grabriel Cousens, author of Spiritual Nutrition, puts it simply, relating it to blood sugar: A low-glycemic diet is alkaline and beneficial. A high-glycemic diet is acidic and unhealthy.

Another way to think of it is this: Foods that contain a large amount of chlorine, phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen  – for example, most animal products – tend to be acid forming. Foods rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium – for example, most vegetables – tend to be alkaline forming.

So how do we apply all of this to our healthy lifestyles? It’s about balance, and we can begin to balance our bodies by keeping our minds as free of stressful thoughts as possible, checking the pH of our water (you can always add fresh lime juice to your water to make it more alkaline) and following an 80-20 rule when it comes to acid/alkaline foods: 80% alkaline-forming, 20% acid-forming. By the way, Dr. Young explains that over-exercising is not good either, as it produces lactic acid in the tissues and makes us “fat”. So, exercise for flexibility, strength and cardiovascular (among other) benefits, but don’t kill yourself if weight-loss is what you’re after. Instead, be sure to eat right to help your body maintain its healthy pH balance and the extra fat off of your hips, belly and thighs. If you do exercise a lot because it is your passion, then alkaline-forming foods take on an even more important role in helping you get rid of acid byproducts. Besides protein shakes you may be fond of for tissue repair, be sure to add green juices to your diet. Also, deep breathing makes the blood more alkaline, so do not skip the cool down process. This will help keep the fluids at the right pH levels, waste out, and health in place. Over-acidic people’s personalities are typically described as grouchy, sensitive and exhausted, exhibiting aches, pains, headaches, problems with sleeping and often having tummy trouble and cravings (and therefore anxiety). So, taking the proper steps to balance your body’s pH will help maintain the health of your body AND mind, and help you project the best version of your own personality without the added emotional imbalances that result from an overly-acidic diet. It’s interesting to no that the  acronym for the Standard American Diet – processed foods, too much meat and dairy – is SAD. Wouldn’t you rather be happy and healthy? Take care of your body pH by eating a vegetable-rich plant-based diet and watch how your mood changes.

]]> http://hlifemedia.com/2010/06/alkalinity-vs-acidity/feed/ 14 http://hlifemedia.com/2010/06/the-cell-you-but-smaller/ http://hlifemedia.com/2010/06/the-cell-you-but-smaller/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:00:45 +0000 Maryl Celiz http://hlifemedia.com/?p=5074

Since we’re always talking about how nutrition is all about feeding your cells, we thought we’d better acquaint you (or re-acquaint you…we all took biology when we were kids!) with this wonderful unit of existence. Our cells are amazing bundles of endless work, so cute, all round and jam-packed with goodies to keep you alive.

The cell is a marvelous structure that runs as efficiently and tirelessly as a thriving business – with many members hard at work performing various necessary tasks. Let’s take a look at this wonder of a mini-creation, of which you have trillions at a time in your body (they ARE your body!)

Every cell is bounded by a membrane, kind of like a fenced-in community or the border that surrounds a pool and keeps the water in. Within this membrane is a semi-liquid substance called cytosol (this would be like the water in the pool). Suspended in the cytoplasm – some moving, some static – are tiny bodies called organelles (“little organs”), each of which has a specialized function within the cell. This is where it gets really interesting. Like with every structure, there is a level of organization within the cell, and if each “department” and its members do their jobs correctly, get what they need to accomplish this, and don’t mess with anyone else’s gig, everything works just fine. This reflects as health in the human body.

So what are these organelles?  The usual suspects are really cool:

• ✶ There’s the nucleus, so important that you’ve probably heard of it. The nucleus contains chromatin, which are made up of DNA (genetic material) and protein. Think of it as the genetic library of the cell. When you hear about people talking about genetics, it’s this tiny central part of your tiny cell within the tissue, within the organ, within the various systems of your body that people are referring to. All of your history (and your parents’ and grandparents’ and so on until the beginning of man) is in the center of a tiny cell, of which you have roughly 50 trillion. Take a moment to marvel (1, 2, 3…all together now: “WOW”.)

• ✶ If the nucleus is the big daddy of the cell both in size and importance, then the mitochondria is the big momma, as it also contains some DNA and has a  crucial role. The mitochondria (singular and plural…there are a few in a single cell) is also known as “the powerhouse of the cell”. This is because it is where cellular respiration takes place and that means that it is there that the actual energy that your body uses to move around and stay alive is generated.

• ✶ The nucleus takes up a nice chunk of cell space, and so does the endoplasmic reticulum that surrounds it. The ER is a network of membranous sacks and tubes that take care of various metabolic tasks.

• ✶ Another organelle is the ribosome. There are a bunch of tiny ribosomes everywhere in the cell – some stuck to the ER – and their job is to make proteins.

• ✶ There is also the golgi apparatus, which is like a processing guy – it takes care of the synthesis, sorting and secretions of the cell’s products.

• ✶ When there’s stuff that needs to get broken down (remember, the food you eat is going where? TO YOUR CELLS. You literally feed your cells when you put something in your mouth), such as a carbohydrate/fat/protein that entered the cell for nutrition, there are organelles called lysosomes (lys = “to break”) that take care of “digesting” it or otherwise breaking it down enough to where it can be used by the cell for nourishment, energy or repair.

There are more “little organs” in your cell, such as transport vessels that move things to and from each organelle, but these are the main guys who take food, water and other elements in and process them to keep you alive and kicking. Now do you see what we mean by the importance of what you put in your body in the form of food? Whatever you ingest is going into your cell and activating, nourishing or harming, and otherwise interacting with your DNA, your body’s energy generator, the distribution centers for power and survival, and virtually everything you need in order to either maintain or fix your physical body, which, of course, has a direct effect on your mind, emotions and spirit.  What your cells need is a variety of nutrients from real, whole foods as well as fresh and natural ionized/alkaline water that has not been recycled fifty times. They also need fresh air and food sleep from you, so be sure to take yourself to places where you can “feed” your cells clean air and try to respect your circadian rhythms by sticking to a 6 a.m.-10 p.m. wake schedule.

Think about the little guys the next time you’ve got a choice to make for breakfast, lunch or dinner. “How will this affect my DNA?”  “Will the overly processed sugar in this soda be too much or too foreign for my lysosomes to break down?” “Should I opt for pure water instead of this sugary drink?” “Is it really a good idea to drink alcohol if it is going to kill my neurons, dehydrate my cells and ask my liver to work overtime to get rid of the toxicity?”

And remember your origins: All of these trillions of cells that you collectively call (fill in your name here) came from the replication of ONE of your mother’s cells together with ONE of your father’s cells. THAT…is how important a single cell is.

You cannot love what you don’t understand, and you cannot understand what you do not know. So, now that we’ve reacquainted you with the tiny units of your physical body, how about it? Let’s love ourselves by loving our cells.

You have it, it’s a part of you, and it has your back like no one else: Your immune system. It protects you from things that bug you (like a cold), things that want to mess with you (like the sting of a bee) and things that could kill you (like cancer). Or, at least, it tries to. But, how well do you know your immune system?

Let’s find out.

Complete the following sentence: “My immune system is affected by _______.”

A.  Microbes
B.  Diet
C.  Exercise
D.  My boss
E.  All of the above
F.  A, B and C but not D
G.  A is the same as D

While your boss might very well be a microbe, the answer is E. Things like bacteria, viruses, the types and quantities of food that you eat, exercise or lack thereof, and stress (caused by your annoying microbe of a boss and all those TPS reports) all affect the condition of your immune system. The good news for you is that, for the most part, these things are within your control.

Knowledge is power, so let’s explore the fascinating world of our natural defenses. When we say “defenses” we are literally talking about the guys in charge of defending you from bad things. There are three lines of defenses in your body. The first is your skin. Your skin, along with mucous membranes and the secretions from both of these, act as the external barrier that protects you from invading microbes. If somehow they get past this first line of defense (maybe you have a cut and they get in through there), the second defense mechanism kicks in. This second line of defense is composed of phagocytic cells that literally ingest the invading organisms, as well as antimicrobial proteins, both of which can be said to be “in action” when we see (or feel) inflammation.

Both the first and second line are non-specific defense mechanisms, meaning that they don’t differentiate between one invader or another. This is where the third line of defense is different and incredibly special: It remembers who tried to attack you previously, so that it can strategize and dispatch specially equipped troops to handle this enemy full-force. The third line of defense is like the Special Ops, the FBI, the CIA of your body: protection coupled with intelligence. This is a specific defense mechanism composed of lymphocytes and antibodies, and it is what we most commonly refer to when we say “immune system.”

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell (there are five types) and they are the key cell of the immune system. There are two main types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells. These are named after the two sites where lymphocytes develop: B cells grow in the bone marrow, while T cells grow in the thymus gland.  Other than these two areas of the body where these types of cells develop, the lymphatic system (the traffic grid for lymphocytes) has special spots where lymphocytes hang out. These are organs where “foreign” molecules are trapped, and they include the spleen, lymph nodes, the appendix, tonsils, an area of the small intestine called the Peyer’s patch, and a clump of tissue in the back of the nose called the adenoids. As lymphocytes mature, they develop the ability to also differentiate not just between distinct foreign substances, but also between foreign substances and bacteria/microbes that belong to the self.  It would be disastrous if our immune system would destroy stuff that naturally belongs to our bodies, as we can see in the case of immunodeficiency diseases like lupus or multiple sclerosis. Because of this, the immune response is highly specific and regulated.

So, how do we maintain a healthy immune system?  Healthy immune function depends on both the endocrine system and the nervous system. Physical and emotional stress can harm immunity: Hormones secreted by the adrenal glands during the fight or flight stress response affect the number of white blood cells and also may suppress the immune system in other ways. Neurotransmitters secreted when we are in a good mood or in a relaxed state have also been found to affect immunity. This means that general good health and your state of mind affect immunity. Regular exercise, laughter, a healthy diet that enhances neurological function (whole grains and leafy greens support the nervous system) and avoids toxic chemicals (sugar, alcohol, unnatural and overly processed foods), general good hygiene that includes regular mind/body/environment detoxes to prevent build-up of any kind, and a concerted effort to include people, places and activities that make you happy and relaxed (meditation, positive friends, places like the beach where you gather ions that soothe you) are great ways to help boost your immune system and to maintain it in good shape so it can do its job of protecting you. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.

And if your boss – or any other person other than you – is making you miserable, you have two options: adapt or exit. Staying in an environment in which you put your health at risk by subjecting yourself to undue pressure, abuse, or even just a basic lack of enjoyment is putting yourself on a path to a malfunctioning immune system, with an open invitation to illness of all kinds. Take responsibility of your health by taking care of your immune system, which includes being in a home and work ambiance that supports who you are, and where your contributions are appreciated.

A final note about food: Chlorella is an algae that has been found to actually help multiply T cells in our body, which means it directly boosts the immune system by adding more soldiers to the force. How awesome is that? You can find out more about this wonderful helper in our HFood: Chlorella article. Also, echinacea (pictured above) is another plant used to help the immune system, as it is known to activate T cells and trigger immune response.

]]> http://hlifemedia.com/2010/04/the-immune-system/feed/ 4 http://hlifemedia.com/2010/03/dear-hlife-candida-albicans/ http://hlifemedia.com/2010/03/dear-hlife-candida-albicans/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:00:19 +0000 Silvie Celiz http://hlifemedia.com/?p=3671 Healthy Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet

Dear HLife: What is the Deal with Candida?

Dear HLifer,

Candida sounds like the name of a hot girl who lives next door right? And that’s not far from reality. It lives closer to us than we know it, but it is not a human being. Candida Albicans is a yeast, a type of fungus that lives naturally in all human bodies of all ages from birth on.  Here is the ‘big deal’ with candida and health:

If you live in a healthy body: It lives symbiotically in a balanced environment as a yeast in the gastrointestinal tract, on the mucus membranes and on the skin, causing no problems for the body. Living in a healthy body implies that you have a strong immune system via a nutrient-dense, conscious diet and high-frequency thought patterns.

If you live in an unhealthy body: This harmless ‘yeast’ (single-celled organism) can overgrow, turning into an extremely dangerous pathogenic fungus with roots that can attack any organs or systems in your body. This fungus uses its roots to dig and create holes into the intestinal lining, where it and its by products can then infiltrate the blood stream.

I compare Candida to the Incredible Hulk. If it’s under control, it’s harmless. If it’s activated, it’s lethal. And guess who can control your Hulk/Candida disease-activating transformation? You. So, how do we go from harmless yeast to dangerous pathogen? Candida overgrowth happens in many different ways that cause the body to be in a weak imbalanced state. Major causes of Candida overgrowth include alcohol overuse,  the use of antibiotics, recreational drugs, birth control pills, as well as stress, radiation, chemotherapy, steroids and poor diet.

This is genuinely the real Hulk in potentially all of us, which can literally take the body down by causing illnesses such as sinus problems, mucosal and systemic infections, hypoglycemia, acne, hypothyroidism, fibroids, anxiety, depression, lupus, autism, mental diseases – and even cancer. Can you control this from happening? Absolutely. A whole foods, organic, plant-based diet is the best way to keep Candida in a controlled yeast state. Yeast overgrowth thrives in the environment of diets high in refined sugars, refined carbohydrates, dairy products, alcohol, processed foods, and hormones secreted as a result of high stress levels.

• ✻ Destroying good/friendly bacteria in our gastrointestinal gut through birth control pills, antibiotics, or poor diet will allow yeast to take over.

• ✻ Whether due to stress or ingesting processed, refined sugars, the fungus only cares about  the resulting “high blood sugar” content, and will use this sugar to reproduce itself.

• ✻ Once “Hulk” imbalance is in effect, yeast continues to multiply as it is fed sugar in any form – desserts, alcohol, white flour, dairy products like milk and cheese, and elevated blood sugar levels caused from stress.

• ✻ By-products of Candida, called mycotoxins, are neurotoxins that cause disruption of cellular communication, destroy and decompose tissues and organs, which makes the body weak and prone to infection and inflammation.

• ✻ Mycotoxins weaken the immune system, disrupt RNA and DNA production, damage and destroy neurons, are carcinogenic, cause a lack of coordination and confuse the body systems so much that they create cross-wiring problems of the immune system causing it to attack itself (your own body, which it is supposed to be protecting).

• ✻ The status of the body’s intestinal flora, GI mucosal function and liver health protect the brain against mycotoxins.  Poor diet contributes to a toxin-filled liver and a low count of friendly bacteria, which will allow mycotoxins to make camp in places like the brain, the nervous system, the joints, and skin.  A nutrient-dense, organic, plant-based, unprocessed foods diet will keep the liver healthy, free from toxins, and keep the friendly bacteria count high.

• ✻ Candida overgrowth creates a cascade of imbalances in the body such as emotional disturbances (anxiety/depression), multiplication of microorganisms,  and hormonal changes.

• ✻ Poor diets (high in refined sugars, refined carbohydrates, dairy products, alcohol, processed foods) and hormones secreted as a result of high stress levels elevate blood sugars, which in turn feeds bacteria, parasites and viruses.  Animal flesh and derivative products create an acidic environment, perfectly suited for all of these pathogens to thrive in, therefore creating more disease in the body.

With its high minerals and vitamin content and no refined or processed sugar, a whole foods plant-based diet is perfect support for a stressful or healthy lifestyle.

Foods to eat:

• ✻ Organic vegetables. No GMO, pesticides nor herbicides for a toxin-free, strong liver. Veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals for stress support, aid in body regeneration, and reduce acidity, which reduces inflammation. (Avoid mushrooms and corn).

• ✻ Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, spelt, whole wheat.

• ✻ Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like dark leafy greens, coconut, flax, hemp seed oil, olive oil, raw nuts and seeds and avocados.

• ✻ Beans and legumes in small quantities (small serving 1/2 cup) because, although they contain protein, they are also high in starch, which turns into sugar in the body. Adzuki and mung beans are the highest in protein, so they are the most suitable. (Avoid fermented soy products).

• ✻ Fruits have amazing micronutrients but in this case, because they have sugar in the form of fructose, limit to one fruit per day, preferably the ones with a lower sugar content. Berries contain the least amount of sugar and are loaded with antioxidants.

• ✻ For an enzyme-rich nutrition and an alkaline-promoting environment, eat more raw vegetables and fruits than cooked foods. Try a ratio of 70% raw to 30% cooked.

• ✻ Drink plenty of pure water and alkalinize your body through fresh vegetables juices.  Avoid too many carrots, as they have a higher sugar count.

• ✻ All nuts and seeds (raw only) – except cashews, peanuts, peanut butter and pistachios.

• ✻ Avoid all processed foods, canned foods, refined sugars, refined flours, white starches, sodas and pre-packaged products, frozen meals, bottled dressing and sauces, and animal products.

You see something. You think it’s yummy (or you say, “this is healthy for me!” Thumbs up.)  You put it in your mouth. It disappears. Now what happens? Let’s follow some food down the rabbit hole.

The digestive system starts in the mouth, the place where ingestion (you putting your food in your mouth for it to enter your body) takes place.  The first thing that happens is the secretion of saliva.  Saliva is actually pretty amazing: It lines and protects the inside of the mouth from superficial damage, makes the food easier to swallow, and has chemicals that help neutralize acid and prevent tooth decay, as well as antibacterial agents that get rid of many of the bad guys that come in with food. Probably the most known action of saliva is that it contains amylase, an enzyme that digests carbohydrates.  So, of all the macronutrients (carbs, proteins and fats) the carbs (sugars and starches) are what gets digested first chemically, starting in your mouth. Physical digestion (the actual breaking down of foods into physically smaller pieces by a force exerted on them) is what your teeth are for. Chewing is a crucial part of digestion, so spend some time there and chew your food well, because food has to be in very tiny molecules before it can be used by your body. After your food has been partially chemically digested and you have chewed and physically broken it down, your tongue helps shape it into a bolus, and then pushes this bolus (ball) down the pharynx.

From the pharynx, the food goes to through the esophagus and into the stomach (this takes about 5-10 seconds), where digestion continues for 2-6 hours, depending on what you ate. The stomach is a stretchy sucker, and it can expand to hold about 2 liters of food and drink, more than enough space for a full meal. The stomach is not the main place where food gets digested, contrary to popular belief, but it does play an important part. Here is where gastric juice is secreted. The muscles that line the stomach churn the gastric juices and mix them with the bolus, and your food is broken down further (if you’re starving and you hear “hunger pangs”, that’s your stomach churning!).This gastric juice is an interesting guy. It is acidic enough to dissolve iron nails (pH 2). With this industrial strength, it further takes apart our food chemically, kills bacteria, and introduces pepsin in the mix, an enzyme used to break down proteins.

How does the stomach not digest itself? It has a mucus lining that protects its insides from all of these harsh chemicals. Also, pepsin doesn’t become active and able to break down stuff until it gets to the lumen of the digestive tract. As the churning continues and the chemicals (acid, enzymes, food) mix, what was once your meal turns into a nice broth called acid chyme (chyme is what you feel when you get heart burn). There is an opening from the stomach to the small intestine and it is controlled by a regulator called the pyloric sphincter. Chyme passes from the stomach to the small intestine one quirt at a time (which is why it takes 2-6 hours for the stomach to empty – not to digest your food as digestion mostly takes place in the small intestine).

Now we’re getting to the place where the action happens: the small intestine. This guy is six meters long and all convoluted. The first 25 cm of it is called the duodenum and it is in this section of the small intestine where acid chyme mixes with digestive juices from the real heroes of digestion: the pancreas, the liver, gallbladder and gland cells of the intestinal wall itself. While the environment in the stomach is ultra acidic, the environ in the duodenum, thanks to the chemicals provided by these guys, is much more alkaline. Acid-alkalinity balance is crucial for digestion and absorption because this relationship dictates the behavior of chemical compounds in our body.  If an environment is too acidic, chemicals will travel to it to make it alkaline, and vice versa.  The thing is, the Western diet, based on animal protein and bad fats, is way too acid-forming for our bodies, and usually throws off some mechanism in our body.  Your body has the ability to neutralize too much acidity, but at the cost of alkaline nutrients like calcium (which is why it is said that dairy products, acid-causing, tend to leech calcium from our bones).  Anyway, acids and bases are a major subject of concern for us, but a topic for another post.

In the duodenum, carbs that started digesting in the mouth, proteins that began to be digested in the lumen of the stomach, and fats (which, until this point, where not digested at all…you see why fats cause trouble – they are the last thing to be digested) all get fully digested, all thanks to enzymes provided by the pancreas and bile from the liver and gallbladder. The macronutrients (carbs, proteins and fats) are now completely broken down into molecules that can be absorbed as they travel through the rest of the small intestine.  This is a crucial process. It does you no good to eat something that will not be absorbed by your body. The thing is, if we eat mostly processed foods or animal-based foods that throw off the pH balance of our body and are difficult to digest, then absorption suffers. If you eat stuff that your body can’t fully break down, then that food won’t get absorbed.  If that food doesn’t get absorbed, that means the nutrients that were in that food, will not be absorbed. And if you don’t absorb nutrients from a food, then you might as well have not eaten at all because THE POINT OF EATING IS TO ABSORB NUTRIENTS. You survive based on the various nutrients that your blood receives when you eat.  But if the nutrients cannot be digested, cannot be absorbed and cannot get to the blood, seriously: no point in eating.  Which is why it is really important to know how the digestive system works and what foods are easier to digest and better absorbed than others. And you can be sure that organic whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grain are the easiest foods to digest and the most nutrient-packed ones, so you will absorb plenty of nutrition from them. These foods, because they are easier to digest, also save your body energy: digestion and absorption are processes that require energy, and it can take anywhere from (depending on how hard the food is to digest) 3%-30% of the chemical energy of the food you ate to actually process it, which either leaves 97% or just 70% energy for you to use.  Again, it’s up to you – you can either have an efficient system or a wasteful one.

Let’s continue. As the nutrients pass from the duodenum on through the rest of the small intestine, absorption continues and nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, sugars and more pass to either the lymphatic system, or to the liver, which processes these nutrients further and then sends them out as part of the blood through to the rest of the body, to perform functions like cell and tissue repairing and more.  Foods that are not absorbed will continue through the small intestine and end up in the large intestine, to be disposed of. One of the main functions of the large intestine is to absorb excess water from the digested food and other chemicals secreted during digestion. As this happens, the wastes of the digestive process (cellulose from vegetables, which helps move food along the intestine and out, bacteria that naturally live in the intestines and help this process, and other undigested stuff) become more solid, and we get rid of it when we go to the bathroom.

The entire process can take up to from 24-36 hours, from ingestion to excretion (and since we eat every day, excretion should take place AT LEAST once a day. If you’re not evacuating your bowels at least once a day, you’re not at your optimal health). Again, this all depend on the quality of food you eat, because this will dictate how quickly, fully and efficiently your food will be digested, absorbed and eliminated. Make the right choices of what you ingest and be sure to enjoy your meal, as things like stress can interrupt digestion. And take control of your digestive health by making informed food decisions.

It is said that the stomach is the “second brain” because if it empty, or not working right, it will not let you think straight. Ever tried to do something while you were starving?  Hopefully, this explanation has helped you see food and eating in a different light.  Here’s to your healthy and conscious eating!

Your body is a reflection of your mind, your emotions and, of course, the food you choose to put in it. Here at HLife, we do not believe in diets or any other temporary ‘fixes’ – those days are over. The truth is that health is a lifestyle, and part of that lifestyle is NUTRITION – conscious, balanced, nutrient-dense eating.  It’s time to change the way your look at food and get active about how you nurture your body.

Yes, everyone knows that with exercise you will lose some weight and get toned, but if your nutrition is not great, even exercise won’t keep you at your optimal, healthy human-machine level. Every day we look at ourselves in the mirror, and what do we see? A figure, a form, a dense silhouette of compacted matter.  We think, “There I am, that’s me, the dense mass in the mirror” and either “I look fat” or “I look skinny”. But, what is the problem with this picture?  Generally, people seem to look only at the external part of the body,  the end result, but in order to change the outside (what we see in the mirror) we need to understand and be conscious of the INSIDE of our body, where all the magic happens on both an electric and chemical level.

From here on out, when you look at yourself in the mirror, you are going to go beyond: You are going to see (imagine) your organs, tissues, cells, molecules, atomic particles. Your entire internal world, as real as that skin and those beautiful eyes you see on the outside.

Just like with any other good relationship, our relationship with our body has certain requirements. We need to pay attention. We need to take the time. We need to know how the body works and what it needs, and give it exactly that – or it is going to go downhill.

Your body is an electric, chemical and alchemical factory, a Universe in itself.  You need to be in awe of it, and treat it with respect and much love.  You are the God of your cells; take care of them, and they will take care of you. You are in charge of keeping your neurons alive and giving them a quality environment to thrive in, to give them what they need in order to make the electrochemical connections that allow you to think properly and send messages to the rest of your body about how to behave.  It is up to you to choose the nutrient quality that your body deserves.

Preparing the body for 2010 from an HLife perspective is not just about another quick fix for the new year or summer, it is about adopting a lifestyle of maintaining your body at an optimal level of health and balance – for the rest of your life.  Don’t get overwhelmed – get excited!  This is a process that takes will power, good information (which we will provide for you), awareness and a strong and genuine desire to be the greatest version of you that you can be – forever.

The following are general guidelines to start preparing our bodies for a change in nutrition. Every body is different and has different needs that depend on various things, such as, lifestyle (am I an athlete? A morning person? A couch potato? Someone who works with his mind or someone who does physical labor for a job?) stress levels, height/weight, body chemistry, genes, etc…  One thing is for sure though: Nutrition is never about taking foods away and leaving a void, stopping there –  it’s always about replacing those foods with better, more quality foods.  A common example is people who cut out meat. Wonderful – but how are you replacing your protein needs?  It’s not about cutting meat and just eating pasta (white flour without nutrients). It is about giving your body what it needs (no more, no less) and making sure it is not deficient or imbalanced.  This requires research, for you to understand your internal world and begin to provide for its needs.

THE BODY

• -Learn about (and love) your internal body- You can learn with HLife every day, but also motivate yourself to be proactive and do further research to understand the processes and basic needs of the body in general. Know what your organs do, what their functions are, how to help them and how not to hurt them. Know what chemicals your brain creates when you ingest certain foods or beverages.  Are you killing your neurons, which is the case with alcohol? Are you damaging your cells, which is the case with over-sugary, artificial drinks?
• -Discover the state of your own body- Take inventory of who you are physically and what you’re working with – from the inside. Find out the condition of your liver (next time you get a physical, ask for blood tests to check this and other organs like your kidneys), if you have any mineral deficiencies (there are hair tests that you can do for this), your cholesterol levels, your immune system (do you get sick a lot?  If it’s flu season, are you always catching it? Frequent colds or infections?), digestive system (any constipation? Loose bowels? You should be emptying your bowels at least once a day), etc…Put the puzzle of your body together and get a general and an in-detail notion of what condition your body is in. Don’t just look good on the outside, know that you function amazing on the inside. This is the starting point for health, because once you know what state you are in internally, you can begin to correct any deficiencies or excesses and achieve a balanced state.
• -Be aware of your lifestyle- Do you have too much stress? What time of the day and through which activities/environments/people do you get stressed? Do you have the kind of nutrition that supports your stress level?  Do you live in a polluted city like Los Angeles, where you would need more detoxing? Are you craving too much sugar and caffeine?  Are you sleeping enough? What is your biorhythm like?  Are you eating a lot, a little or at all? What kinds of foods are you eating? How often are you drinking or smoking and when? Remember, you can change all of these habits, especially if they don’t serve you and give you negative results. What you are doing by analyzing your lifestyle is completing a picture, a map of what your body needs as it interacts with things outside of it, so that you can get a well-rounded picture of what to feed it.
• -Cut down on (or cut out) animal products- These poor creatures are not the source you want for protein.  They come with bad cholesterol, bad fats, low energy frequency of fear (chemicals like adrenaline seep into the animal’s bloodstream when it senses it is about to be killed. This stays in the muscle tissue as a toxin that you then eat.) On top of this, if you don’t buy organic you can add antibiotics, hormones, and other toxic chemicals to that list, not to mention cloned meat that the FDA allows in the market since late 2007. The China Study, a book about a major comprehensive study, probably the most important piece of literature on nutrition, makes no qualms about telling us that animal protein causes cancer.  And let’s not forget the fact that this dense carcass putrefies, and this rotting proliferates colonies of bad bacteria in our intestines. Replace it with quality sources of digestible and absorbable protein, like the algaes chlorella and spirulina, bee pollen, brown rice/bean combos, soy products like tempeh and tofu, nuts, seeds, and many others. All of the vegetable kingdom has some sort of protein in varying amounts and types (protein is not all the same, you know. There are different amino acids and you need them all in various degrees.) Check out our post, Protein Myth part 2, and our HFood: Chlorella for more information. Chlorella, a green algae contains more then double the protein content found in beef, hands down a much better source for your body and health.
• -Feed from the organic Vegetable Kingdom- The varieties and options available from the plant kingdom are endless, and the nutrients (if the produce is organic) are abundant. A seasonal and varied plant-based nutrition is the best choice for providing your body with all it needs: complex carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids (good fats), enzymes, minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidants, etc… It’s a healing and high-energy diet.  You’ll seldom see a man who looks five months preggers (you know, that round belly) with a plant-based diet, unless he is a processed-and-junk-food vegetarian. The pregnant look for a man says, “I eat animals and lots of animal products, plus too many simple carbs, and it is all stuck and putrefied in my gut, forming cities of bacterias.” Not too dashing. An organic plant-based, whole foods diet provides you with plenty of fiber (the bones of the plants) especially designed by nature to clean out your intestines and keep you slender – and away from colon cancer.
• -Drink lots of H2O- Stay hydrated with pure water – your brain needs it and will thank you for it. You skin is the biggest organ of your body and it needs hydration as well, including in the winter time. Water is so powerful that it will flush toxins down the elimination channels.  Also, when you think of hydrating your body, don’t just think about the water you put in it, take into consideration things that you put in it that might dehydrate it. Sugar, alcohol, caffeine and other substances do this. Don’t take the water away from the body by having some sugary, canned beverage.  This will only contribute to type 2 diabetes (not to mention make you more thirsty as your liver and kidneys ask for more water to flush the excess sugar out of your bloodstream) lowering your immunity and even immobilizing your immune system for several hours, which, if you come in contact with any bacteria or virus (we do all the time, just by breathing or shaking someone’s hand), your defenses are off, won’t be able to fight, and BAM! You will get sick.  Be aware of the choices you make and their consequences. Make conscious choices (causes) knowing your desired result (effect).
• -Develop a new relationship with your food- Food is not your boyfriend – it is your friend, your healer, your creation. Get in the kitchen and ignite your culinary and creative skills. From buying fresh, seasonal and organic produce to coming up with a meal and preparing it – cooking/baking/eating can be an incredibly creative process that allows you to love your food and the feeling of well-being you derive from it.  Go to the farmers market, to the organic farms themselves, if you can. Check out our  HKitchen for recipes to get started, and add your own changes to taste. Check out our  HFoods to learn of all the amazing benefits and content of each individual vegetable. Remember, there is a molecular world that we cannot see with our eyes but that is there regardless, and it can change our bodies and our lives.  Learn what happens when each food enters your body, the whole process, what you get form it, all the way to how it is eliminated.  You will start to see and appreciate the Vegetable Kingdom more and more for the benefits it provides you, and realize that it was meant to feed our human bodies for health.

The human machine is perfectly designed. It is our ignorance of it that deteriorates and damages it through poor food choices. To have a beautiful and healthy body shouldn’t just be a new year’s resolution – it should be a long term choice of a conscious lifestyle and our natural state of being. Remember that when you go from an animal-based diet to a plant-based diet, you have to know what you are doing. Get informed. Know and understand nutrition and what the vegetable kingdom offers. Take the time, read the books, do the research, ask the people. It is not about stopping to eat something and keep going, or just eating lettuce. A plant-based diet of whole, organic foods (and nutrition in general) is about knowing what your body needs and giving it the best quality and ratios for health. By quality we mean a food that will do all the following gracefully and with no problems: breakdown food into liquid molecules (digest), absorb, assimilate, and eliminate.  We all deserve the best quality life and optimal health.  As always, the choice is yours.

If we say “digestive system”, you probably think: stomach.  We get it.  It’s definitely way cuter to say “belly”, “tummy”, or even “gut” than to say “intestine” or “esophagus”. But to think of your tummy when you think digestion is a completely incomplete picture, and we’re gonna amplify that perspective for you a little bit here at HLife.

First, let me explain why you should care about understanding how your digestive system works.  Of all the daily activities you do that affect your health, eating/drinking is the most critical one.  Breathing is important – can’t live without it for very long at all – but inhaling and exhaling are automatic processes that you do without any effort, not even a  thought.  Sleeping is important, but you do that once, maybe twice a day (nap time!) and it normally doesn’t require much thinking other than “hey, I think it’s time for bed.”

Eating is very different. It is frequent – you eat several times a day, and drink several times in between (water, hopefully.)  It is a voluntary process – you eat what you decide to, when you decide.  It requires effort on your part – you must either cook the meal yourself or the meal must be provided for you somehow – and then you have to actually ingest the food and chew it. All of this – what, when, where, and how you eat – are all THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL.

For those of you with weight loss on your mind, process this:  How many times do you exercise?  Three to five times a week, if you’re dedicated.  How many times do you eat?  Three to five times a day.  Which one do you think affects you weight more?  Exactly.

We mentioned what, when, where, and how you eat.  But we haven’t mentioned why.  Why (my favorite question, incidentally,) is one of the most important words because it is both the most overlooked and the most crucial piece of information you can have to service your health.  You can eat for fun, for social reasons, because you’re sad, because you’re happy, because you have an addiction, because you have a disorder, to please someone, to appease another, and many other reasons.  But the true reason for eating is this: All organisms need chemical energy (food) for growth, physiological processes, maintenance and repair, regulation, and reproduction. In other words, why should you eat? Because the proper development of your body, keeping all of its organs and systems working well, fixing things that go wrong, restoring balance when you’re off-balance, ensuring the continuation of your species, and everything that it otherwise takes to keep you alive and kicking all largely depends on the food you eat.

Follow this: You are made up of organ systems, which are made up of organs, which are made up of tissues, which are made up of cells.  In other words, you’re made up of cells.  And what do cells depend on to do their job of keeping you alive and well? Food and water. In other words, let’s get real: When you eat, you’re not feeding yourselves, YOU’RE FEEDING YOUR CELLS.  And this truth is what you have to remember when you’re going to make a food choice.  Questions like “what does my body need?” and “Did I provide my body with the right balance of amino acids, enzymes, good fats, water, and nutrients?” need to replace others like “what do I feel like eating?”  We’re not saying don’t enjoy your meal.  In fact, to us, the most nutritious, balanced meals are the most delicious, as you can see from our HKitchen recipes. What we’re saying is this:  Think about what you want AND need to eat.  In other words, take care of your cells.  They are depending on you to make the right choices – and you’re depending on them to keep you alive.

The digestive system is composed of all passage ways and organs involved from the moment a piece of food enters your body to the moment it exits – the mouth, the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and anus.  The entire process involves ingestion (putting the actual food into your mouth), digestion (breaking food down into particles small enough for the body to absorb), absorption (the uptake of small nutrient molecules by the body) and excretion (getting rid of what the body doesn’t need.)

In The Digestive System Part 2, we’ll go into these parts and processes in more detail, so that you can actually know what is going on in your body and do what we at HLife love for you to do: Take control of your life by making informed decisions.

Source: Biology by Campbell and Reece

The liver is the human body’s most functionally diverse organ.  Not only does this guy multitask, it also interacts with most of the body’s organ systems for various reasons. To make this ultra clear, let’s pretend it is an employee that wears many hats and works different jobs:

• The liver is like Fed-Ex. It interacts with the circulatory system as it picks up glucose (simple sugar that acts as fuel for your body) from the blood.
• The liver is a gas station. It holds glucose that your body doesn’t need at the moment in the form of glycogen, and then, when your body calls for it, changes it back glucose so that it can be distributed through your blood as the fuel (energy) you need in order to, for example, go for a run.
• The liver is a manufacturer. It synthesizes (makes) plasma proteins important for blood clotting and for the osmotic (fluid/water) balance of the blood.
• The liver is an executive assistant. As one of the major glands that aid in digestion, it produces bile that helps digest fats.
• The liver is a janitor. It detoxifies your body of poisons and prepares metabolic waste for disposal.

It is probably in this last function that most of us know the liver, and ‘cleansing’ diets tend to be aimed at this organ because, as it tries to make all of its rounds and complete its various responsibilities, including ridding the body of toxins, it can overextend itself.  Sadly for most of us, the liver is like an overworked, underpaid, stressed-out employee, the biage of our body, for whom we show very little appreciation and much less care. Here are some examples of what we should and shouldn’t do for this organ:

• Stop supersizing. Nobody is Superman here.  Just like there is a limit to what you can do in one single day at work, there, too, is a limit to how much food your liver can help digest and how many toxins it can rid your blood of per minute.  Since this is America, Land of the Big Mac, we tend to eat huge portions in one sitting, which is like asking your liver to lift 20 lb dumbbells when it can only do 10 lb.  In this instance, we could learn a little from the French: petite portions.
• Eat organic. Eating organic means, among other things that your food has little to no pesticides (a poison), no antibiotics and no hormones in the case of animal protein.  Eating conventionally grown (not organic) food means that you are eating all of these chemicals, which your liver then has to work overtime to rid your body of.
• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a toxin, and guess whose job it is to rid our bodies of it?  Yup, the liver.  The thing is, the liver can only process a certain amount of alcohol at a time and, to do so, it puts on hold its other responsibilities. I like the comment I saw on a website about this:

Alcohol = poison.
Poison = bad
Liver = poison remover
Too much poison = liver overloaded
Liver overloaded = liver in trouble
Liver in trouble = illness
Illness = bad
Don’t stop eating poison = liver dies
Liver dies = you die.

• Hydrate. Water, through a process called ‘hydrolysis’, is a major player in cleaning the cells of every organ in your body, including the liver.
• Choose fresh instead of fried. Just like with alcohol, the liver has to put other tasks on hold in order to help digest fat.  Good fats are fine, but if you eat you some fried chicken, then some French fries and a nice helping of biscuits with gravy, then you best be getting to church because Lord help you – and your liver.

Noble organ that it is, the liver can actually work with only 20% of its capacity.  But, is that what you want, a ‘good enough’ liver?  No.  So, what can we do to help this guy stay on top of his game and keep us healthy and happy?  Simple: Eat a diverse and constant amount of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables that have the ‘good chemicals’ to keep your liver performing its metabolic functions optimally. Dandelion tea helps because it cleanses the kidneys, which are the liver’s filtering buddies (they work in the same department.)  Milk thistle directly works with the liver to help detox and cleanse it. Drink plenty of water, stay away from fried foods, alcohol and any other chemical toxin that will make this employee of yours work overtime.  Otherwise, be prepared to pay for it.

Source: Biology by Campbell & Reece