Why Does It Matter What We Eat?

Why does it matter, right? I mean we are all going to die someday, right? I hear this every time I visit my grandfather, but then again he always enlightens me on what he learned on that Food Network and what kind of salad he had this week... So, I feel like he knows better... Ha, I love you, Papaw!

I believe that all men are created equal, but all foods are not! Dr. Colbert says, some food should not be labeled "food" but rather "consumable product" or "edible, but void in nourishment." I say, Amen Brotha! There are two types of foods: Living & Dead foods!

LIVING FOODS:

Living foods are fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nute- exist in a raw or close to raw state and packaged in divinely created wrappers called skins and peels. Living food looks in fact alive. Living foods are plucked, harvested, and squeezed- not processed, packaged, and put on a shelf.

DEAD FOODS:

Dead foods are everything that living foods are not. They have been altered and deconstructed in every way imaginable way to make them last as long as possible and be addictive as possible! So, in order to do this manufacturers have to add sugar and salt and man-made fat.

Let's talk about the sugar real quick... Ever had a large party? Do you typically buy filet mignon for your cookouts or hot dogs... That is what I thought! When we are feeding the masses, we buy the cheaper alternative; manufacturers do the same to you and me. They have such a large quota to fill, so they cut corners. When adding to sugar to processed food, they add the cheapest sugar- bleached, refined sugar.

Now, I said, they use salt as well! Well, most of us know that is to preserve our food andenhance the flavor. What's a matter with salt? Well, nothing! In fact, even though it is zero calories it is an electrolyte and brings balance in our bodies. However, if we take in too much, pressure starts building in the body! We take in too much salt, and then required to take in too much water to filter out the increase in salt. Recommended Daily Allowance of sodium is 2400 mg to 3000 mg! Next time you are eating out, check the sodium count on your favorite dishes! Be aware, you cannot afford not to!

What's man-made fat? It is man made by taking natural oils such as vegetable oil for example (again cheapest oils) and heating them to dangerously high temperatures so that the nutrients die and become reborn as something completely different- a deadly, sluggish substance that is toxic to our bodies.

What do we do about these living and dead foods? Life breeds life. Death breeds death. When you eat living foods, the enzymes in their pristine state interact with your digestive enzymes. The other natural ingredients God put in them- vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants, fiber, and more- flow into your system in their natural state. These living foods were created to cause your digestive system, bloodstream, and organs to function at optimum capacity.

Dead foods hit your body like a foreign intruder. Chemicals, including preservatives, foodadditives, and bleaching agents, place a strain on the liver. Toxic man-made fats begin to form in your cell membranes; they become stored as fat in your body and form plaque in your arteries. Your body does its best to harvest the tiny traces of from these dead foods, but in the end you are undernourished, overfed, and overweight.

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 8 of 8

Asthma Without Allergies? 

One of the most intriguing questions in immunology today is why everyone doesn't suffer from asthma. After all, the air we breathe is full of germs, viruses and other irritants. Since half of the 17 million Americans with asthma are hypersensitive to common substances like cat dander or pollen, it stands to reason that their allergic reactions trigger the chronic inflammation in their bodies. Yet the people who develop asthma as adults — one of the most rapidly growing segments of the population — often don't have allergies. Doctors still don't know what's driving their disease, but the signs of inflammation are every bit as present in their lungs.

Many treatments for asthma are designed to control inflammation, although they still don't cure the disease. "It may mean that the inflammatory hypothesis is not entirely correct or the drugs that we use to treat inflammation aren't fully potent," says Dr. Stephen Wasserman, an allergist at the University of California at San Diego. "There are a lot of gaps to fill in."

Everywhere they turn, doctors are finding evidence that inflammation plays a larger role in chronic diseases than they thought. But that doesn't necessarily mean they know what to do about it. "We're in a quandary right now," says Dr. Gailen Marshall, an immunologist at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "We're advancing the idea to heighten awareness. But we really can't recommend specific treatments yet."

That may soon change. Researchers are looking beyond aspirin and other multipurpose medications to experimental drugs that block inflammation more precisely. Any day now, Genentech is expecting a decision from the FDA on its colon-cancer drug, Avastin, which targets one of the growth factors released by the body as inflammation gives way to healing. Millennium Pharmaceuticals is testing a different kind of drug, called Velcade, which has already been approved for treating multiple myeloma, against lung cancer and other malignancies. But there is a sense that much more basic research into the nature of inflammation needs to be done before scientists understand how best to limit the damage in chronic diseases.

In the meantime, there are things we all can do to dampen our inflammatory fires. Some of the advice may sound terribly familiar, but we have fresh reasons to follow through. Losing weight induces those fat cells — remember them? — to produce fewer cytokines. So does regular exercise, 30 minutes a day most days of the week. Flossing your teeth combats gum disease, another source of chronic inflammation. Fruits, vegetables and fish are full of substances that disable free radicals.

Apply What We Learned:

So, how do we avoid all the inflammation that we have learned about that causes such long-term damage to our bodies... capitalize on the natural things we can do everyday to maximize our health and increase the quality of our years here on Earth! What helps us do that? Look for items in the grocery store that advertise ' RICH IN ANT-OXIDANTS'! From there, flip over the package, If the ingredients do not read that the top 3 ingredients is where the anti-oxidants come from, it is not worth the buy. If you already experiencing some of the disease and inflammation already, take advantage of Sonoran Bloom Nopalea! This is going to flush the toxins from the body naturally and quickly! I challenge you to try it! If you see no results or are not 100% impressed then get your money back! Give yourself the chance to feel better and be better!

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 7 of 8

When the Body Attacks Itself 

No doctors have more experience treating chronic inflammation than the physicians who specialize in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus and other autoimmune disorders. For decades these diseases have provided the clearest example of a body at war with itself. But the spark that fuels their internal destruction doesn't come from excess cholesterol deposits or a stubborn bacterial infection. Instead, in a bizarre twist of fate, the body's supersophisticated, learned immunological defenses mistakenly direct an inflammatory attack against healthy cells in such places as the joints, nerves and connective tissue.

Over the past few years, powerful drugs like Remicade and Enbrel, which target specific inflammatory cytokines, have worked wonders against rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders. But as often happens in medicine, the drugs have also created some problems. Patients who take Remicade, for example, are slightly more likely to develop tuberculosis; the same inflammatory cytokines that attacked their joints, it seems, also protected them against TB.

Inflammation may be more of a problem in the earlier stages of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. So much tissue is eventually destroyed that nerve damage becomes permanent. "Your initial goal is to keep the immune response in check, but then you have to ask how you encourage regrowth of damaged tissue," says Dr. Stephen Reingold, vice president for research programs at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. It could take decades to figure that one out.

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 6 of 8

Asprin for Alzheimer's Disease? 

When doctors treating Alzheimer's patients took a closer look at who seemed to be succumbing to the disease, they uncovered a tantalizing clue: those who were already taking anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis or heart disease tended to develop the disorder later than those who weren't. Perhaps the immune system mistakenly saw the characteristic plaques and tangles that build up in the brains of Alzheimer's patients as damaged tissue that needed to be cleared out. If so, the ensuing inflammatory reaction was doing more harm than good. Blocking it with anti-inflammatories might limit, or at least delay, any damage to cognitive functions.

The most likely culprits this time around are the glial cells, whose job is to nourish and communicate with the neurons. Researchers have discovered that glial cells can also act a lot like the mast cells of the skin, producIt appears that some people are more sensitive to plaques and tangles than others. Perhaps they have a genetic predisposition. Or perhaps a long-running bacterial infection, like gum disease, keeps the internal fires burning and tips the balance toward chronic inflammation.

Preliminary research suggests that low-dose aspirin and fish-oil capsules — both of which are known to reduce inflammatory cytokines — seem to reduce a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, most of these preventive measures need to be started well before any neurological problems develop. "What we've learned with dementia is that it's very hard to improve people who already have it," says Dr. Ernst Schaefer, a professor of medicine and nutrition at Tuft's Friedman School of Nutrition in Boston. "But it may be possible to stabilize people and to prevent disease."

Inflammatory cytokines that call additional immune cells into action. "The glial cells are trying to return the brain to a normal state," explains Linda Van Eldik, a neurobiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. "But for some reason, in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, the process seems to be out of control. You get chronic glial activation, which results in an inflammatory state.

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 5 of 8

Cancer: The Wound That Never Heals 

Back in the 1860s, renowned pathologist Rudolf Virchow speculated that cancerous tumors arise at the site of chronic inflammation. A century later, oncologists paid more attention to the role that various genetic mutations play in promoting abnormal growths that eventually become malignant. Now researchers are exploring the possibility that mutation and inflammation are mutually reinforcing processes that, left unchecked, can transform normal cells into potentially deadly tumors.

How might that happen? One of the most potent weapons produced by macrophages and other inflammatory cells are the so-called oxygen free radicals. These highly reactive molecules destroy just about anything that crosses their path — particularly DNA. A glancing blow that damages but doesn't destroy a cell could lead to a genetic mutation that allows it to keep on growing and dividing. The abnormal growth is still not a tumor, says Lisa Coussens, a cancer biologist at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, San Francisco. But to the immune system, it looks very much like a wound that needs to be fixed. "When immune cells get called in, they bring growth factors and a whole slew of proteins that call other inflammatory cells," Coussens explains. "Those things come in and go 'heal, heal, heal.' But instead of healing, you're 'feeding, feeding, feeding.'"

Sometimes the reason for the initial inflammatory cycle is obvious — as with chronic heartburn, which continually bathes the lining of the esophagus with stomach acid, predisposing a person to esophageal cancer. Other times, it's less clear. Scientists are exploring the role of an enzyme called cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) in the development of colon cancer. COX-2 is yet another protein produced by the body during inflammation.

Over the past few years, researchers have shown that folks who take daily doses of aspirin — which is known to block COX2 — are less likely to develop precancerous growths called polyps. The problem with aspirin, however, is that it can also cause internal bleeding. Then in 2000, researchers showed that Celebrex, another COX-2 inhibitor that is less likely than aspirin to cause bleeding, also reduces the number of polyps in the large intestine.

So, should you be taking Celebrex to prevent colon cancer? It's still too early to say. Clearly COX-2 is one of the factors in colon cancer. "But I don't think it's the exclusive answer," says Ray DuBois, director of cancer prevention at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn. "There are a lot of other components that need to be explored."  

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 4 of 8

A New View of Diabetes 

Before Dr. Frederick Banting and his colleagues at the University of Toronto isolated insulin in the 1920s, doctors tried to treat diabetes with high doses of salicylates, a group of aspirin-like compounds. (They were desperate and also tried morphine and heroin.) Sure enough, the salicylate approach reduced sugar levels, but at a high price: side effects included a constant ringing in the ears, headaches and dizziness. Today's treatments for diabetes are much safer and generally work by replacing insulin, boosting its production or helping the

 body make more efficient use of the hormone. But researchers over the past few years have been re-examining the salicylate approach for new clues about how diabetes develops.

What they have discovered is a complex interplay between inflammation, insulin and fat — either in the diet or in large folds under the skin. (Indeed, fat cells behave a lot like immune cells, spewing out inflammatory cytokines, particularly as you gain weight.) Where inflammation fits into this scenario — as either a cause or an effect — remains unclear. But the case for a central role is getting stronger. Dr. Steve Shoelson, a senior investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, has bred a strain of mice whose fat cells are supercharged inflammation factories. The mice become less efficient at using insulin and go on to develop diabetes. "We can reproduce the whole syndrome just by inciting inflammation," Shoelson says.  

That suggests that a well-timed intervention in the inflammatory process might reverse some of the effects of diabetes. Some of the drugs that are already used to treat the disorder, like metformin, may work because they also dampen the inflammation response. In addition, preliminary research suggests that high CRP levels may indicate a greater risk of diabetes. But it's too early to say whether reducing CRP levels will actually keep diabetes at bay. 

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 3 of 8

Is Your Heart on Fire?

Not long ago, most doctors thought of heart attacks as primarily a plumbing problem. Over the years, fatty deposits would slowly build up on the insides of major coronary arteries until they grew so big that they cut off the supply of blood to a vital part of the heart. A complex molecule called LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol, provided the raw material for these deposits. Clearly anyone with high LDL levels was at greater risk of developing heart disease.

There's just one problem with that explanation: sometimes it's dead wrong. Indeed, half of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. Not only that, as imaging techniques improved, doctors found, much to their surprise, that the most dangerous plaques weren't necessarily all that large. Something that hadn't yet been identified was causing those deposits to burst, triggering massive clots that cut off the coronary blood supply. In the 1990s, Ridker became convinced that some sort of inflammatory reaction was responsible for the bursting plaques, and he set about trying to prove it.

To test his hunch, Ridker needed a simple blood test that could serve as a marker for chronic inflammation. He settled on Creactive protein (CRP), a molecule produced by the liver in response to an inflammatory signal. During an acute illness, like a severe bacterial infection, levels of CRP quickly shoot from less than 10 mg/L to 1,000 mg/L or more. But Ridker was more interested in the low levels of CRP — less than 10 mg/L — that he found in otherwise healthy people and that indicated only a slightly elevated inflammation level. Indeed, the difference between normal and elevated is so small that it must be measured by a specially designed assay called a high-sensitivity CRP test.

By 1997, Ridker and his colleagues at Brigham and Women's had shown that healthy middle-aged men with the highest CRP levels were three times as likely to suffer a heart attack in the next six years as were those with the lowest CRP levels. Eventually, inflammation experts determined that having a CRP reading of 3.0 mg/L or higher can triple your risk of heart disease. The danger seems even greater in women than in men. By contrast, folks with extremely low levels of CRP, less than 0.5 mg/L, rarely have heart attacks.

Physicians still don't know for sure how inflammation might cause a plaque to burst. But they have a theory. As the level of LDL cholesterol increases in the blood, they speculate, some of it seeps into the lining of the coronary arteries and gets stuck there. Macrophages, alerted to the presence of something that doesn't belong, come in and try to clean out the cholesterol. If, for whatever reason, the cytokine signals begin ramping up the inflammatory process instead of notching it down, the plaque becomes unstable. "This is not about replacing cholesterol as a risk factor," Ridker says. "Cholesterol deposits, high blood pressure, smoking — all contribute to the development of underlying plaques. What inflammation seems to contribute is the propensity of those plaques to rupture and cause a heart attack. If there is only inflammation but no underlying heart disease, then there is no problem."

At this point, cardiologists are still not ready to recommend that the general population be screened for inflammation levels. But there's a growing consensus that CRP should be measured in those with a moderately elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease. At the very least, a high CRP level might tip the balance in favor of more aggressive therapy with treatments — such as aspirin and statins — that are already known to work.

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 2 of 8

"....At least that's the theory. For now, most of the evidence is circumstantial. (A few researchers think chronic inflammation can in some cases be good for you.) But that hasn't stopped doctors from testing the anti-inflammatory drugs that are already on pharmacy shelves to see if they have any broader benefits. What they've found is encouraging:

— In 2000 researchers concluded that patients who take Celebrex, a prescription drug from Pfizer that was originally designed to treat inflammation in arthritis, are less likely to develop intestinal polyps — abnormal growths that can become cancerous. Now there are dozens of clinical trials of Celebrex, testing, among other things, whether the medication can also prevent breast cancer, delay memory loss or slow the progression of the devastating neurodegenerative disorder known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

— As cardiologists gain more experience prescribing cholesterol-lowering statins, they are discovering that the drugs are more effective at preventing heart attacks than anyone expected. It turns out that statins don't just lower cholesterol levels; they also reduce inflammation. Now statins are being tested for their anti-inflammatory effects on Alzheimer's disease and sickle-cell anemia.

DeCode Genetics, an Icelandic biotech firm, announced last week that it is launching a pilot study to test whether an anti-inflammatory drug that was under development for use in treating asthma might work to prevent heart attacks.

— Of course the granddaddy of all anti-inflammatories is aspirin, and millions of Americans already take it to prevent heart attacks. But evidence is growing that it may also fight colon cancer and even Alzheimer's by reducing inflammation in the digestive tract and the brain.

This new view of inflammation is changing the way some scientists do medical research. "Virtually our entire R.-and-D. effort is [now] focused on inflammation and cancer," says Dr. Robert Tepper, president of research and development at Millennium Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Mass. In medical schools across the U.S., cardiologists, rheumatologists, oncologists, allergists and neurologists are all suddenly talking to one another — and they're discovering that they're looking at the same thing. The speed with which researchers are jumping on the inflammation bandwagon is breathtaking. Just a few years ago, "nobody was interested in this stuff," says Dr. Paul Ridker, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital who has done some of the groundbreaking work in the area. "Now the whole field of inflammation research is about to explode."

To understand better what all the excitement is about, it helps to know a little about the basic immunological response, a cascade of events triggered whenever the body is subjected to trauma or injury. As soon as that splinter slices into your finger, for example, specialized sentinel cells prestationed throughout the body alert the immune system to the presence of any bacteria that might have come along for the ride. Some of those cells, called mast cells, release a chemical called histamine that makes nearby capillaries leaky. This allows small amounts of plasma to pour out, slowing down invading bacteria, and prepares the way for other faraway immune defenders to easily enter the fray. Meanwhile, another group of sentinels, called macrophages, begin an immediate counterattack and release more chemicals, called cytokines, which signal for reinforcements. Soon, wave after wave of immune cells flood the site, destroying pathogens and damaged tissue alike — there's no carrying the wounded off the battlefield in this war. (No wonder the ancient Romans likened inflammation to being on fire.)

Doctors call this generalized response to practically any kind of attack innate immunity. Even the bodies of animals as primitive as starfish defend themselves this way. But higher organisms have also developed a more precision-guided defense system that helps direct and intensify the innate response and creates specialized antibodies, custom-made to target specific kinds of bacteria or viruses. This so-called learned immunity is what enables drug companies to develop vaccines against diseases like smallpox and the flu. Working in tandem, the innate and learned immunological defenses fight pitched battles until all the invading germs are annihilated. In a final flurry of activity, a last wave of cytokines is released, the inflammatory process recedes, and healing begins.

Problems begin when, for one reason or another, the inflammatory process persists and becomes chronic; the final effects are varied and depend a lot on where in the body the runaway reaction takes hold. Among the first to recognize the broader implications were heart doctors who noticed that inflammation seems to play a key role in cardiovascular disease."

Time Magazine: Inflammation Part 1 of 8

     A friend of mine who is a strong advocate for Trivita as well as the world's health and wellness sent me this article from Time magazine! It is pretty long, so I broke it up for an easy read because it is such pertinent information in the world today! With the leading killers in America having such relation to inflammation, you can't afford not to know!

"What does a stubbed toe or a splinter in a finger have to do with your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, suffering a heart attack or succumbing to colon cancer? More than you might think. As scientists delve deeper into the fundamental causes of those and other illnesses, they are starting to see links to an age-old immunological defense mechanism called inflammation — the same biological process that turns the tissue around a splinter red and causes swelling in an injured toe. If they are right — and the evidence is starting to look pretty good — it could radically change doctors' concept of what makes us sick. It could also prove a bonanza to pharmaceutical companies looking for new ways to keep us well.

Most of the time, inflammation is a lifesaver that enables our bodies to fend off various disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites. (Yes, even in the industrialized world, we are constantly bombarded by pathogens.) The instant any of these potentially deadly microbes slips into the body, inflammation marshals a defensive attack that lays waste to both invader and any tissue it may have infected. Then just as quickly, the process subsides and healing begins.

Every once in a while, however, the whole feverish production doesn't shut down on cue. Sometimes the problem is a genetic predisposition; other times something like smoking or high blood pressure keeps the process going. In any event, inflammation becomes chronic rather than transitory. When that occurs, the body turns on itself — like an ornery child who can't resist picking a scab — with aftereffects that seem to underlie a wide variety of diseases.

Suddenly, inflammation has become one of the hottest areas of medical research. Hardly a week goes by without the publication of yet another study uncovering a new way that chronic inflammation does harm to the body. It destabilizes cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries, leading to heart attacks and potentially even strokes. It chews up nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer's victims. It may even foster the proliferation of abnormal cells and facilitate their transformation into cancer. In other words, chronic inflammation may be the engine that drives many of the most feared illnesses of middle and old age.

This concept is so intriguing because it suggests a new and possibly much simpler way of warding off disease. Instead of different treatments for, say, heart disease, Alzheimer's and colon cancer, there might be a single, inflammation-reducing remedy that would prevent all three.

Chronic inflammation also fascinates scientists because it indicates that our bodies may have, from an evolutionary perspective, become victims of their own success. "We evolved as a species because of our ability to fight off microbial invaders," says Dr. Peter Libby, chief of cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "The strategies our bodies used for survival were important in a time when we didn't have processing plants to purify our water, when we didn't have sewers to protect us."

But now that we are living longer, those same inflammatory strategies are more likely to slip beyond our control. Making matters worse, it appears that many of the attributes of a Western lifestyle — such as a diet high in sugars and saturated fats, accompanied by little or no exercise — also make it easier for the body to become inflamed."

... to be continued.

Nopalea: World's Only Inflammatory Supplement

To My Readers,

I am all about bringing you the best knowledge I can find that I see can benefit you or has personally helped me be healthier and stronger! I just have one question for YOU! If  there was a cure for every illness or sickness that is caused by inflammation, would you want it? Without further ado, I bring you the world's only inflammatory supplement!

• Antioxidant Betalains

What they are 

Betalains are the pigments that give the Nopal cactus fruit its vibrant pink color. But that’s just the beginning. They’re also natural antioxidants—and they’re only found in a few of the world’s plants.

The Nopal fruit isn’t just included in this small group of special plants, it actually leads the group by containing one of the highest amounts of betalains in all of nature.

How they heal 

When you drink Nopalea, you take these betalains into your system, where they begin to restore your vitality on a cellular level. By helping the body reduce the toxins surrounding your cells and enabling essential nutrients to reach each cell, the betalains in Nopalea can reduce the inflammation in your body that leads to disease.

Scientific research shows that betalains help to:

• Reduces the risk of blood clots—betalains protect the thin lining of your blood vessels; this helps reduce the inflammation that makes your blood sticky and leads to clots.¹
• Reduces bad cholesterol—betalains strongly reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol.²
• Protects cells from toxins—betalains protect many types of cells, especially brain cells, from toxins known to trigger tumors.³
• Protects your liver—betalains provide significant protection from toxins that directly affect your liver.⁴

• Health Benefits

The power of betalains 

Harnessing the power of betalains, a rare and potent class of antioxidants that flourish in the Nopal cactus, Nopalea delivers scientifically proven health benefits.

Detoxify your body 

Every day, we’re exposed to toxins in our air, water and food—and even toxins created by our own bodies. Nopalea combines its betalains with other anti-toxic ingredients to combat these poisons where they strike us first: right inside the trillions of cells in our bodies.

By increasing the activity of CYP-2E1, a special enzyme that neutralizes daily toxins, Nopalea protects your cells and vital organs—especially your liver—against the carcinogens, hormone disruptors, respiratory toxins, developmental toxins and neurotoxins that are responsible for one-quarter of all the world’s diseases.

Reduce inflammation 

When toxins assault your system—or when injury or infection strikes—your body responds with a complex biological process commonly referred to as inflammation. If this inflammation goes unchecked, it can lead to a wide variety of disorders, from stroke to arthritis to heart disease.

Nopalea specifically targets signs of inflammation in your body and reduces them quickly.¹ Its betalains and other anti-inflammatory ingredients work directly on the fluid surrounding your cells. There, they draw off the toxins and excess water to reduce inflammation and rebalance the cellular environment.

Protect against premature aging 

Your skin is a miraculous covering that protects you from harm. Pollution, toxins, radiation and other potentially damaging influences are kept out of your body by your skin; vital organs are protected inside. One of the first signs of aging is thin, sagging, withered skin that is easily damaged.

Nopalea rushes to these damaged areas to shore up your protective layer. The betalains in Nopalea fill in the gaps of your cells (including the cells in your skin) and return them to the firm, robust nature of young cells — at any age. By providing a healthy environment for the cell, betalains keep it from withering.

More health benefits 

Want even more reasons to drink Nopalea? Scientific research shows that Nopalea also helps the body to:

• Increase energy
• Boost the immune system
• Protect against fluid retention
• Neutralize free radicals

Drink it and thrive.

• Sonoran Harvested

Low-impact harvesting 

Using sustainable wildcrafting techniques learned from native Sonoran ancestors, Nopalea takes only what’s needed from the extraordinary Nopal cactus. We leave most of the fruit on the plant to nourish the desert animals and ensure an abundant crop for future harvests. It’s our way of giving back, respecting the cycle of life and celebrating the harvest season.

High-impact wellness 

Immediately after harvesting, we transport the Nopal fruits to our state-of-the-art processing plant, where they’re juiced to a puree and blended with other all-natural ingredients to create a deliciously unique concentrated wellness drink. Using aseptic, sterile bottling techniques, we preserve the fruits’ purity and freshness—and we ensure the potency of its powerful antioxidant betalains.

• Research & Science

The Nopal cactus has been called a superfruit. That’s because its powerfulantioxidant betalains have been known to boost the health and well-being of all who drink in its powers.

But don’t just take our word for it. See what the scientific research community has to say.

Anti-Toxin activity

• “Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) protects against oxidative damage induced by the mycotoxin zearalenone in Balb/C mice.” (Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 May;46(5):1817-24.)
• “Opuntia ficus indica extract protects against chlorpyrifos-induced damage on mice liver.” (Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Feb;46(2):797-802.)
• “Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. fruit juice protects liver from carbon tetrachloride-induced injury.” (Phytother Res. 2005 Sep;19(9):796-800.)

Anti-Inflammatory

• “An anti-inflammatory principle from cactus.” (Fitoterapia. 2001 Mar;72(3):288-90)
• “Antioxidant betalains from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression.” (Gentile C, Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Livrea MA, D’Alessio P. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1028:481-6.)
• “Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover.” (Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 28;164(12):1334-40.)

Immune System Boost

• “Betalains a betacyanin pigment purified from fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica induces apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia Cell line-K562.” (Phytomedicine. 2007 Nov;14(11):739-46.)
• “Antioxidant betalains from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression.” (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1028:481-6.)
• “Modulation of intracellular calcium concentrations and T cell activation by prickly pear polyphenols.” (Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 May;260(1-2):103-10.)

Brain Protection

• “Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase expression in activated microglia and peroxynitrite scavenging activity by Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten.” (Phytother Res. 2006 Sep;20(9):742-7.)
• “Interventions for protecting against or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.” BMJ. 2005 Dec 24;331(7531):1515-8.)
• “Opuntia ficus-indica attenuates neuronal injury in in-vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia.” (J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Mar 8;104(1-2):257-62.)
• “Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover.” (Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 28;164(12):1334-40.)
• “Neuroprotective effects of antioxidative flavonoids, quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether, isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten.” (Brain Res. 2003 Mar 7;965(1-2):130-6.)

• Ingredients

SUPPLEMENTAL FACTS 

Serving Size 2 tbsp (1 fl oz) (30 mL) 
Servings per Container 32

Amount per Serving

%Daily Value*

Calories	11	0%
Calories from Fat	0	0%
Total Fat	<1>	0%
Cholesterol	0 g	0%
Sodium	.76 mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate	2.84 g	1%
Dietary Fiber	.32 g	0%
Sugars	2 g	0%
Protein	88 mg	0%
Vitamin C	2.5 mg	4%
Calcium	5.6 mg	0%
Iron	.1 mg	1%
Proprietary blend (Nopalea)	Total 907.15 g	†

Water (filtered), Opuntia concentrate (nopal concentrate), Agave Nectar, Grape Seed extract (vitis vinifera), Raspberry extract (rubus idaeus), Strawberry extract (fragaria chiloensis), Cranberry extract (vaccinium macrocarpon), Apple extract (malus omestica), Apricot extract (prunus armeniaca), Mango extract (mangifera indica) fruit, Orange concentrate (citrus aurantium) juice, Papaya concentrate (carica papaya fruit with papain), Tomato concentrate (lycopersicon esculentum) fruit, Kiwi concentrate (actinidia chinensis), Guava (psidium guajava powder), Lemon concentrate (citrus lionum juice), Opuntia concentrate (nopal concentrate) powder, Peach concentrate (prunus persica) juice, Pomegranate extract (punica granatum with ellagic acid and punocaligans), Green Tea extract (camellia sinensis), Beet (beta vulgaris) juice, Bilberry concentrate (vaccinium myrtillus), Acerola cherry extract (malphigia glabra), Amylase, Cellulase, Hemicellulase, Proteases [bromelain from pineapple (ananas comosus) and papain (carica papaya) from papaya, lipase, phytase], Stevia extract (stevia rebaudiana) leaf, Guar gum, Maltodextrin, Natural flavor, Cherry powder, Xanthum gum.

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. 

† Daily Value not establised.

• Secret Killer

To view this brochure on the reasons inflammation effects us all visit The Secret Killer.

If you would like to order Sonoran Bloom Nopalea or have further questions, you can do so by visiting SonoranBloom.com/13380527

Food Inc. The Movie

Are you all for positive change? 

Are you willing to take the plunge in educating yourself so you make better eating habits? 

You need to at least be on the fence to watch this! This is such an incredible movie! It is so educational and is nothing like you've seen before! You may think, oh Kayla that sounds awfully extreme?! My response, No not at all. This is information you deserve to know and thank goodness it is at a discount price! $10!

Why $10?

This is limited time offer! I found out about this through the Oprah show. She is an public influence that people either love or hate. Well, today you should like her; because, Amazon and Oprah have brought you this special offer! It is only $10 until tomorrow at midnight! So, hurry and order it! Order Food Inc. The Movie Now!!

What's The Big Deal?

What is my hype with this movie? I will tell you. This movie unveils the truth in the quality of foods that are available in the grocery stores. It is such pertinent information; it is so mind-blowing you will not be able to help remember all the amazing things! If you can't tell, I am ecstatic about this! Blog readers, this is going to change your life! Here is more information on this incredible documentary!

Food Inc.: Synopsis

This movie lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing how our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. Food Inc. reveals surprising- and often shocking truths- about what we eat, how it's produced and who we have become as a nation. Rated PG

"EVERYONE SHOULD SEE" - Washington Post

Growing Form of Child Abuse: Obesity

     The title may sound extreme, but looking at statistics alone, it should do a little more than raise the brow. Caretakers of children whether it be parents, grandparents, guardians and so on, must be educated on the biggest killers in the world, start with obesity. Let me must preface this at the beginning, I am not a parent; however, I am a provider for myself. In my pursuits of a healthy lifestyle, I cannot imagine how much more in tune/OCD I would be if I had a mini me running around. It is too early for me to be thinking like that for myself, but I think it is necessary for us to realize the severity of this obesity epidemic.

     The thought of a starving child really saddens us. Its devastating. The thought of a obese kid is... fill in the blank. What do you think of when you see an obese child? Do you laugh? Do you shake your head at the parents or caretakers? It should devastate us at the thought of an obese child, too.

FACT:

• 200 people die a year to anorexia.

 • 800 people die everyday due to obesity related                                                                        illnesses.

     There is no doubt there is a need for girls struggling with an eating disorder. A strong passion of mine is being an encouragement to those girls! I've been there; it was a life struggle for me as well. I gave the anorexia statistic to prove a point. We frown on the supermodels, we feel sad when we see children starving in third world countries, but we have neighbors, friends, and family members dying daily from over-feeding.

     MeMe Roth, co-founder of N.A.A.O. (National Action Against Obesity) is a passionate activist geared towards saving America by making us thinner. She is all about making  lifestyle changes, exercising, and eating the right amount of portions and types of foods. She is firm and

 goes with the tough-love method thus the uproar with her in the media as "allergic to fat people".

Check out this Youtube video! MeMe Roth speaking on a specific case of an obese child whose life is now staged for hardship and pre-mature death. Child Obesity Child Abuse

FACTS: Government Study based on Children Ages 6-11

• 1971-1974: 4% overweight

• 1988-1994: 11% overweight

• 2003-2004: 19% overweight

     Children who begin their life looking like the picture above deal with much more than losing weight. There is a lot of overcoming that has to take place for them to try to live a normal life. They are dependent on their caretakers just as they were when they were an infant. Obesity causes anyone to go back to the state they come into this world, fully dependent. If the beginning of their life was different, they wouldn't have to retract to full dependency.                       

     Caretakers are the parental guidance and ultimately get the last say in what children do and what is available to a child. Just like you would do everything in your power to prevent starvation, you should prevent children from over-eating. You wouldn't think a guardian was fit if they starved a child? Do you think they're fit guardians if they over-feed their child? I say no.

     

     It is only going to get fixed if each guardian takes responsibility for those they are in charge of and make health-conscience decisions. It begins at home! We are in a society where everyday is seen as a treat! We reward with food, plan events around feeding times, and eat emotionally. Treats are for holidays! Just like Madonna clearly points out, it's one day out of life! It would be, it would be so nice! So, let's find healthy recipes kids can try!

Healthy Kid-Friendly Recipes

Quick Breakfast: Yogurt Parfait

Breakfast: Oatmeal with a Twist

Afterschool Special: Smoothie

Easy Dinner: Turkey Tenderloin

Cooling Off: Homemade Popsicles

     These are only a few of ideas. Getting children involved at the grocery store can be a creative way to get them trying new things. Let them pick one fruit or vegetable, they will try (don't have to like) and you will help them with an appropriate recipe. They are venturing out slowly! They are responsible for finding a unique food. It's an experiment. It's an adventure. It's a positive way to try new things! Getting children comfortable with food is a positive way to get them involved. You are less likely to be filling their plate with chicken and fries and justifying it by saying, it's all they will eat. I kindly disagree. I think it is all they will eat because it is all they are exposed to. Ultimately, kids are copycats. They will mimic your every move. Ending this child obesity starts with us. We are the example. We are the leaders. Where will you lead?

Diabetes in America

In this day and age, it's all about how fast can we get it! In America, I think it is careful to call ourselves a rushed society! Is this backfiring? I say, absolutely! I wanted to raise awareness to followers today about diabetes, how it's evolved, and what we can do to help reverse it. 

This is so important because Diabetes is ranked #3 on America's 7 Most Deadly Diseases. Diabetes occurs when your body's cells become resistant to insulin that your body is producing. Your body then isn't getting the glucose it needs.

America's Most Deadly Diseases:

#1 Heart Disease

#2 Cancer

#3 Diabetes

#4 Obesity

#5 Muscular Degeneration

#6 Infertility

#7 Depression

How Do You Know If You Have Diabetes?

Many people can adjust to the side effects and have it for quite some time before being aware and getting treated. Symptoms include frequent bathroom trips, unquenchable thirst, weight loss, weakness and fatigue, tingling in hands and feet, blurred vision, and dry, itchy skin.

We expect to stay well if we opt for low-cal this and reduced-fat that, ask for seasonal vegetables for dinner, skip a meal (to lose temporarily weight), or even drink diet soda. (Don't get me started on diet drinks.) Perhaps, you are making healthier choices for you and your family. Those I just rattled off are not enough to keep you from avoiding these main causes of death. It all comes back to diet and exercise. I believe living life to the fullest. I want to be in optimal health so if you do too, please keep reading.

Glad you're still with me because I think that the above paragraph was probably a bit hard to hear. We as a whole are over-scheduled, have long commutes, and have no time for self or family. Hear are some of the ways we have created an unhealthy environment for one another. 

8 Ways We've Made Ourselves Unhealthy:

• Elevators

• Escalators

• Telephones

• Snow-blowers/Leaf-blowers

• Cars/ Buses/ Trains

• Food Availability

• Fast Food

• Vending Machines

I am not saying, I have never used these in my life. I am just bringing awareness to how we do things quicker and more time-efficient! If there are healthier alternatives such as stairs... take them! While you're at it, walk on your toes up the stairs! Great calves here you come!

Statistics: Did You Know?

One in four Americans eat fast-food daily.

We set the example and pace for the next generation. This is why this is so important. It is easier to follow by example than to change the world. If we created a healthier living environment now, it will be much easier for future generations to take better care of themselves. How many times have you created a habit doing something your mother or father did? You do it because they did it. 

As consumers we have the ability to change what is available is in our supermarkets. What you ask the manager for and what you buy most of will in return be what they carry more of. You have the power for change. Be the difference you wish to see in the world, my fellow friends!

Statistics: Did You Know?

50% of Americans' food dollars go to eating out.

The average American is 47 lbs. heavier than the average American 50 years ago.

(I think my butt gettin' big?!)

Aren't we all looking to reduce our costs overall in this economic time? Eating healthier and exercising more is cheaper in the long run!

Statistics: Did You Know?

 74 million dollars goes to treating those with health issues due to smoking every year.

222 billion dollars goes to treating those with health issues due to obesity-related every year.

12.7 billion every year is dumped into fast food advertising.

Every year each American eats 47 burgers. 

(I don't eat meat so someone is eating enough for me.)

1.1 billion every year is promoting vegetables.

Side note: If you were in the health care biz or fast food campaigning, why would you fix this when it generates so much money for your pockets?

Now, my point is your health is all you got even when you lose everything. Nobody is going to look out for you like you look out for yourself. So, do just that! I would like to say there is someone we can blame or sue, but it is really our own fault. Here is how you can better yourself and those that look up to you: 

*By walking 30 minutes a day, you decrease your chances of diabetes by 30%.*

People who suffer with diabetes die younger by 13 years. There are many complications in their life like blindness and losing blood circulation that causes you to lose limbs. There are also a loss of kidney function, increase in gaul stones, liver failure, asthma, sleep deprivation, and leading to being dependent on medicare. This is not a road you want to travel if you can avoid it. Did you say your mom has it?

Statistics: Did You Know?

Adult Diabetes: 

If you have no family-related people with it. our chances of getting it is 5-10%.

If you have a sibling with it, your chances of also having it increases to 30%.

If you have a twin with it, it increases your chances by 80%.

People who are diagnosed with diabetes typically have a high BMI (Body Mass Index). You can check your BMI by going to the Dept. of Health and Humane Services and putting a few things such as weight and measurements to calculate it. It will also tell you if it's high or normal.

The rushed society aftermath is taking a toll on the kids of America. There is now child diabetes which is the first ever! 

Statistics: Did You Know?

Every hour a child watches tv, they consume an extra 160 calories.

By the time they graduate high school, they will have watched 19,000 hours of tv.

19,000hrs. x 160 cal. = 3,040,000 extra calories

This is what I would say is "rushed society aftermath". We are paving the way for the future of America to be a sick society full of disease. This is a scary statistic. It makes me want to jump out of my chair right now and do something. It starts with us one by one creating a better lifestyle for ourselves and our future and our kids' future. 

What We Can Do To Help!

Individually: 

• Breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby's life decreases their risk of obesity.

• Eating as a family or with others tends to keep you from over-eating.

• Eating colors is a healthy way to look at it.

• Take your child(s) to the store and let them get involved by picking one fruit/veggies they've never had before.

• Set limits- television time, junk food allowance

• Kids should play outside. Kids need physical activity.

Community:

• Walk when you can

• Get involved in local races and walks whether it be running the race or supporting someone who is.

• Visit your nearby parks more.

Business:

• Ask employers about adding a wellness program on insurance, giving rewards to healthy people.

• Ask for gyms at work especially large corporations or a discount to the local gym.

• Ask for healthier food options in the cafeteria or have workshops on reading labels to raise awareness.

Politics:

• Reduce junk food advertisements.

• Food stamps for healthier options.

• Insurance agencies creating wellness programs and rewarding healthy people.

• Increase the quality of public school foods that are available to the kids.

• In schools, create a mandatory class on nutrition education.

Diabetes is no laughing matter. We as a whole must improve our won quality of life so that others will follow. We have to take a stand for ourselves and others. You don't have to do much to stand out. You have the power for change, change for our future here in America. Be the difference!