10 Steps to Emotional Health and Vitality

1. Practice forgiveness

Let go of anger.  Let go of guilt.  Let go of recrimination.  Let go of blame. They all poison your body, your mind and your spirit.  They all limit your ability to be free of the past in order to be present in this moment and to create the future you desire.  They, in fact, imprison you in your own private hell. The key to unlock this prison is forgiveness.

2. Be grateful

Life is a gift. Relish it.  If you can read this, you are better off than half the people on this planet.  If you are reading this, you are better off than 90% of the people on this planet. Each breath should be an expression of gratitude. Let other people know how much you appreciate them and you will find yourself appreciated.

3. Be loving

Start with falling in love with you. Be kind, compassionate and loving to yourself. Then, give the gift of you to others. Offer your smile, your kind words, your support, your friendship, your compassion and your love to others.

4. Build your self-esteem

You are special and unique. You are a miracle. You are a gift to the world. Who you are and what you do matters. Remind yourself of that every single day. Affirm your value.

5. Develop passion

This is your life. Get excited about it. Seize the moment. Seize the day. Develop a burning desire for something -- anything -- that causes you to jump out of bed each new day with eager anticipation.

6. Choose your attitudes

How you feel is up to you. You can choose to be happy. You can choose to be joyful. You can choose a positive mental attitude. You can choose to feel powerful. You can choose victory over victimhood. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Develop a winner’s mindset.

7. Spend time with you

Become your own best friend. Get to know you. Spend a little quiet time with yourself each day reviewing your value, your values and your progress.  Coach yourself in self-improvement.

8. Opt out of abusive relationships

This is critical. Don’t let anyone abuse you physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. Not your spouse; not your family, not your friends. Walk away. Get help if you need it. Surround yourself with people who uplift you and get away from those that denigrate you. 

9. Forego fear

Fear is a killer. It also prevents you from thinking clearly. It stops you from self-actualization. Fear creates anger and hatred. Fear is often used to manipulate. Whenever anyone attempts to use fear as a motivator, walk away.

10. Smile

Don’t worry. Be happy. Today’s little problems will be tomorrow’s chuckles and adventure stories.

OC

                  

Digestive Health

You can

• Improve pH

• Increase energy level

• Balance weight

• Improve digestion

• Get rid of those pesky ridges on your nails

It's all about food choices and your digestion.

Digestion:  An Overview

The mouth, stomach, small intestines and pancreas are all capable of producing enzymes for good digestion if they are not overtaxed, choose good food combinations, do not overeat and do not eat nonfood items.  

Food can turn into poison if we cannot digest it and if it becomes toxic to the body. Undigested food sits in the digestive tract long enough to damage it.  As we have mentioned on other posts, the toxic residue can seep into the bloodstream and tissues of the body.  Cellulite, obesity and disease are some of the results of poor digestion.  There are more....it's a long list.

Enzymes will digest foods when they are properly combined, are 'real' food, and are not over-consumed.  Each enzyme has its own action, and only acts on one specific food type.  Enzymes which act on protein do not work on fats, sugars or starches.  There are specialized enzymes within each group to digest foods, i.e., sugars are broken down by maltose, sucrose, lactose, etc. Each of these sugars has its own enzyme, and one enzyme cannot digest the other type. Enzymes must also work in order. An enzyme can perform its work only if the work has been done properly by the enzymes which preceded it.  

• Starch digestions starts in the mouth with saliva and takes 2-3 1/2 hours to digest. 

• Protein digestion begins in the stomach and becomes known as amino acids. Undigested proteins turn into toxins; the result is the production of allergies due to the undigested protein. Ice (drinks, etc.) shocks the body and causes the stomach to stop or reduce the production of digestive juices. Consuming liquids with meals can dilute the enzymes and reduce the prospects for good digestion.  

• Fat is split into components by gastric juices of the stomach lining producing the enzyme, lipase. HCl also helps digest fat.  Fat is converted into fatty acids, which are broken down into glucose (energy).  Fat takes the longest time to digest of any food.  

Starch, protein or fat from vegetables are in smaller, more balanced amounts and are more compatible with either starch or protein for proper food combining.

Fruit is one of the foods especially made for the human body.  Those claiming to have problems with fruit and eliminate it from their diets because they think it's too high in sugar or develop a bloated or gaseous condition, when it's really the result of improper food combining.

Fruit must pass through the mouth, stomach and small intestine where enzymes convert it to glucose.  However, when fruits are eaten with other foods and the digestive track is not empty, the fruits tends to ferment.  The rule for fruit is to eat it alone or leave it alone.  Do not eliminate fruit from your diet since the role of fruit is to cleanse the system.

So pay attention to the signals your body gives you and make wise food choices.  A little discipline goes a long way -- and you can't beat the payoff!

LNH

Nanotechnology: The Future At Whose Expense?

Nanotechnology is the antithesis of Natural Health (as it relates to LNH), although nature has been lab-copied to create nanotechnology, but it is big news and affects all of us on one level or another. We'd be remiss if we didn't discuss it. Let's watch a video to get our feet wet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4CjZ-OkGDs

and

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9142464944215677186&hl=en

This second video is a bit dry, but complete.  Please view them with an open mind. There are many sides to the nano-equation -- and it's not all good, as they would have you believe in the first video.  The last 10 minutes of the second video are especially revealing and alarming to scientists around the world.

Nanotubes, which were discovered about 20 years ago, are rolled-up sheets of interlocked carbon atoms that form a tube so strong and light that some scientists have suggested using a nanotube wire to tether satellites in a fixed position above Earth. They're used in various applications -- from building tiny nanoradios and tennis rackets to iPods and computer chips.  

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9123245&intsrc=hm_list

and

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Health_Care&articleId=9088939&taxonomyId=132&intsrc=kc_li_story

The effects of nano products emitting nanotubes on nanotech workers or on the unprotected (no lab gear) public when a racquet is scraped along the ground is unknown and unstudied.  

One question: Why not?  Aside from the fact that the FDA doesn't require labeling, why wouldn't these industry giants (billions in annual revenues) show social consciousness and responsibility by making the public aware of what they're doing AND perform studies and research long term exposure effects on humans?  

It has been proven that nanomaterials pass through the blood-brain barrier and also gets into cells, the liver, spleen, pancreas, etc., and can cause oxidative stress, which could start a transcription of genes which should not occur and become problematic.   It's been recommended that nanomaterials are regulated as "Hazardous", however, are not regulated to date.  And yet development continues. Nanobioweapons for one.  Chemical weapons for another. There are more.

Biotech companies are all about the future, but at what cost? Human health?  Or will they have developed a completely robotic society and won't have to consider human health ramifications in the future?  

Sounds far-fetched, but it's not.  It's no secret that the US military has been working on building a robotic army for years.  

Nanotechnology is also used to develop delivery systems for cosmetics and skin care products.  This is alarming, as we know that substances put on the skin (nano or not) are absorbed into the bloodstream.  

http://www.organicmakeupandskincare.com/blog/2009/02/organic-skin-care-vs-nanotechnology/

http://www.organicconsumers.org/clothes/nanotech011105.cfm

Nanotechnology is in your food, too:

http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=32231

So we now know that nanotubes and nanoparticles have already invaded human bodies.  To what end?  Morgellons?  

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2283503&page=1

Since this ABC Primetime report, we've learned that Morgellons particles are self-replicating in the body.  They are not known to be contagious.

http://www.kickthemallout.com/article.php/Story-Nanotech_Is_Killing_People

How did this happen?  Dr Hildegarde Staninger, a prominent and highly regarded toxicologist, literally wrote the book on toxicology.  Here is an excerpt of her Morgellons research findings:

Some other diseases that have come into play for workplace and environmental exposures are the following:

Morgellons - A disease in which individuals have the growth of fibers from their skin that burn at 1,700 degrees F and do not melt. (20) A private study to determine the chemical and biological composition of these fibers has shown that the fibers' outer casing is made up of high density polyethylene fiber (HDPE). The fiber material is used commonly in the manufacture of fiber optics. There is no history of the individual in that industry or coming into contact with this material. It was further determined that this material is used throughout the bio nanotechnology world as a compound to encapsulate a viral protein envelope, which is composed of a viron (1/150th times smaller than a virus) with DNA, RNA, RNAi (mutated RNA) or RNAsi linear or ring plasmids for specific functions. (21, 22) Toxicological pathology identification of tissue biopsies from an individual diagnosed with Morgellons revealed the presence of continual silica or glass tubules with the presence of silicone. (23) It must be noted that the core toxicological effects of silicone alone have been demonstrated throughout the breast implant industry and litigation cases. (24, 25) Furthermore, silicone cannot make silica, but silica or silica bicarbonate can make silicone through natural cellular interaction in a biological system. The subject did not have breast implants or any other implant or silicon glue injections.

Here's a clip of Dr Staninger's nanotech findings:

FDA, EPA and Nanotechnology

Nanotechnlogy is the ability to control things at an atomic and molecular scale of between one and 100 nanometers and has been met with enthusiasm across a variety of industries. Critics highlight the murky area of how nanoparticles affect toxicity and say nanoparticles should be treated as new, potentially harmful materials and tested for safety accordingly.(5)

Unlike pharmaceuticals, which must go through a series of pre-market approvals, finished dietary supplements need no pre-market approval. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which is part of the Food and Cosmetic Act, only ingredients not marketed in the US before October 1994 must be approved by FDA before use in consumer products. Thus, as it stands, pre-market regulation of nanotechnology in dietary supplements, biological pesticides, and other man made nanotechnology does not fall under FDA, EPA, OSHA, FIFRA and other regulatory agencies in the USA, just for the simple reason that the nanotechnology is so small that the conventional regulatory laboratory methods do not have equipment to measure at 9 decimals below the zero and are only addressing 3 and 4 decimals (ppm, ppb, and ppt).

In 2005, the Woodrow Wilson International Center stated that more than $30 billion in manufactured goods, according to Lux Research, almost doubled the previous year. The market analyst projects that by 2014, 15 % of all globally manufactured goods will incorporate nanotechnology. So, as environmentalists, engineers and scientists, how do we monitor and keep our bodies, workplace and environment safe from its own self? (6)

Here's the link to the full report with specimen photos:

http://www.staningerreport.com/#morgellons.html

As you can see, nanotechnology is all around us every day. And it's only getting bigger:

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090504/121432586.html

http://seekingalpha.com/article/136686-two-nanotech-companies-to-watch

Nanotech sounds great in theory, but has been shown to have deleterious effects on humans. There are positive aspects, but do they outweigh the potentially devastating aspects? It's crucial to become educated aware of how these technologies impact our health as well as the health of our loved ones for generations to come, and involved with having a say in how they are marketed and labeled for human contact -- topical, ingested or otherwise.

OC

Truly Natural Sunscreen Alternatives

Summer is here! We all know it is suggested to take in 20 minutes of sun every day to maintain Vitamin D levels, bone health and activate natural skin defense mechanisms. That said, many people are concerned about the risk of skin cancer. And despite sun exposure recommendations, we spotted a few 'lobsters' walking around Laguna Beach this weekend.

We hear a lot about UV rays, but what do UV (ultraviolet) rays mean to us relevant to our skin?

UVA=Aging rays

UVB=Burning rays

UVC=Cancer-causing rays

And then there are sunscreens. Recent studies have made us aware of the dangers chemical-laden and nano-tech sunscreen products present to our health (which not only filter rays, but also inhibit our body's natural function to naturally protect itself). Check out

http://nano.foe.org.au/node/291 and

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/322212/toxic_sunscreen_and_natural_alternatives.html?cat=5 for more information.

The truth is that most sunscreens on the market contain toxic and carcinogenic ingredients. Cosmetic companies and dermatologist's have known the startling truth for well over a decade. It is no secret. Many of these ingredients found in commercially sold sunscreens actually contain free radical generating properties. One such ingredient is octylmethoxycinnamar (OMC). This ingredient is found in nearly 90% of sunscreens currently on the market and acts as a UV attracter making it twice as toxic during sun exposure, thus actually increasing your cancer risk. Another ingredient called Psoralen also increases your skin cancer risk by as much as 83%! This is outrageous considering 35% of sunscreen applied to the skin is directly absorbed into the blood stream.

So, what are the alternatives? In the case of sunburn, we look to our expert friends in Australia, where two out of three people are treated for skin cancers during their lifetime.

Many people who live in Australia choose to wear sun-protective clothing that is specially made with a tighter weave to block the harmful rays of the sun and offers the equivalent of approximately SPF 30. Australia-based Coolibar is a company that offers sun-protective clothing, swimwear, and hats. Other companies offering clothing with sun-protective fabrics include Solar Eclipse and Solartex.

In actuality, there are many options for sun protection that respect both the body and the earth:

• First, use common sense. Try to stay out of the sun during peak sun hours, between 10 am and 2 pm, when sunburn and sun damage is most likely to occur.

• If you have to be out in the sun during peak hours, try to find a shaded area, an umbrella, or wear a wide-brimmed hat. If you have the budget, check out sun-protective clothing (or find bargains on eBay). Make sure to research protective clothing vendors, as some of them use chemical additives to confer sun-protective abilities into the clothing.

• When you use sunblock, check the label and choose one that isn’t going to make you worry about carcinogens or environmental toxins. Of over 120 manufacturers of sunscreen products, only 9 companies claim not to use toxic ingredients. It's easy to make your own sunblock with zinc oxide (the white stuff) and lotion. We also like to use pure coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter. They smell good and your skin loves them! If you can’t pronounce the ingredient, you probably don’t want it on your skin. Also, whatever you put on your skin absorbs is absorbed into the bloodstream. That said, if it isn't fit to eat, you probably don't want to use it on your skin.

• Eat plenty of dark green, red, and yellow fruits and vegetables, to keep your skin healthy and less prone to skin damage. People whose diets are high in Omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (such as sunflower, safflower and other vegetable oils) are more prone to have sun-damaged skin. Once consumed, these oils work their way to the skin surface, where sunlight oxidises them, rapidly creating free radicals -- unstable molecules that damage the cell's DNA, leading to photoageing as well as skin cancer (Nutr Cancer).

• Researchers from Germany found that beta-carotene supplementation protects against sunburn. If you are going to be out in the sun, consider increasing your intake of Vitamins C and E. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermotology, 2g of Vitamin C and 1000IU of Vitamin E daily reduced the tendency to sunburn. And according to JAMA, Beta-carotene is a safe and effective treatment for those whose skin is overly sensitive to sunlight. UV exposure depletes the body of this nutrient, and the evidence indicates that supplementing with 25mg of mixed carotenoids plus 500IU of natural Vitamin E will provide extra sunburn protection (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition). Lycopene is also helpful. Supplement when necessary, but LNH suggests getting vital nutrients from organic food sources. Yams, carrots, mango, papaya, spinach, kale and other dark leafy greens, and sweet potatoes are all viable sources of beta carotene.

• In an extreme situation (some of our readers are extreme sports-enthusiasts and dare devils), covering oneself with mud or other opaque, light-blocking substance will shield the skin from UV rays.

If you do end up with a sunburn, consider natural, eco-friendly remedies for sunburn relief. Aloe vera gel is very soothing and effective. It can either be purchased from a natural foods store or taken directly from an aloe vera plant. (LNH maintains aloe plants and suggest using the raw aloe directly from the plant leaf for burns of any kind.) A soothing oatmeal bath can also be helpful.

Finally, remember that every choice you make has some kind of an environmental impact. It’s a good idea to treat the planet kindly by living lightly—you will also reap the benefits!

LNH

Water: What's the Big Deal?

Lots.

• Water is the principal constituent of all living organisms and the most abundant component of the human body.  

• Water is present in all body tissues and is essential to all body biochemical processes, including energy production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).  

• Water is an end product of the metabolism of energy-producing nutrients and contains no calories. • Approximately 50-60% of an adult's total body weight is water. 

Water intake must be equivalent to water elimination for homeostasis.

• Water provides an aqueous medium for all body fluids, secretions and excretions such as blood, lymph, urine and perspiration.  

• Water transports nutrients to cells and transports wastes from cells. 

• Water provides a medium for excretion of wastes from the body and aids in digestion of food through hydrolysis.  

• Water regulates body temperature through insensible water loss from the skin and maintains the physical and chemical constancy of such body fluids as plasma and lymph.  

• Water acts as a lubricant in the pleural cavity and pericardium.  

• The body does not digest water since no digestion is required.

So drink up, folks!  Get rid of headaches, lose weight, clear the skin, improve digestion, improve body functions, improve restful sleep....there's really no end to the health benefits of drinking good, pure water.

It's suggested to consume 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water per day.  Drink more to compensate when perspiring and/or during physical activity.  

Tip:  Consuming 4 ounces of water at 20 minute intervals (a guideline) will give your body an opportunity to absorb the water.  Chugging large quantities at a time may send you trotting off to the WC!

LNH

The Truth About Protein

Protein comes from the Greek word "proteios", meaning "of prime importance".  Proteins, like carbs and fats, contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen;  however, proteins also contain nitrogen. Some proteins also contain sulphur, phosphorus and iron.  Plants can manufacture proteins by combining the nitrogen from the soils with carbon dioxide and water.  Legumes, such as beans, can take nitrogen directly from the air and, with the aid of symbiotic bacteria, make protein. Man must get his protein from his diet.

Another difference is that proteins are combinations of 24 different amino acids.

Classifications of Protein

• Complete - foods which contain all the essential amino acids in significant amounts and in the proportions to maintain life and support growth when used as the sole source of protein food.

• Partially incomplete - those which contain amounts of the essential amino acids to support lie but not maintain growth.

• Incomplete - those which will not support growth.

Function of Protein

• Growth and maintenance

• Enzymes

• Hormones

• Antibodies

• Fluid and electrolyte balance

• Acid/base balance

• Energy

Digestion of Protein

• Proteins must be broken down into amino acids to be absorbed.

• Digestion of amino acids is slow (12 hours to get benefit of protein mail with proper food combining).

• Mechanisms of protein digestion are the 

- mouth - small bites

- stomach - hydrochloric acid (HCl - see previous post) converts the inactive enzyme pepsinogen into pepsin, which breaks down protein into polypeptides)

- small intestine - pancreatic enzymes and intestinal secretions break down polypeptides into amino acids for assimilation by the body.  Absorbtion takes place here.

Sources of Protein

1. Animal sources - meat, fish, eggs, cheese

2. Plant sources - beans, lentils, nuts

Signs of possible Protein deficiency

• excess moisture (edema, eyes, mucous)

• depression

• wired

• unrestful sleep

• feels hungry/eats without listening to body

• difficult to lose weight

• TMJ

• Immune system problems

• Hormone imbalances

LNH

The Truth About Fats and Lipids

Fats, like carbohydrates, are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.  Fat contains more carbon and hydrogen and less oxygen than carbs, making it a more concentrated form of fuel yielding 2.25 times as much energy per gram as carbs.  

As they relate to nutrition, a fat that is in a liquid state at room temperature is called an oil. Fats are generally insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents as ether and chloroform.

There are 3 essential fatty acids:

1. Linoleic acid - Omega 6 (vegetable oils)

2. Linolenic acid - Omega 3 (flax seeds, cold water fish)

3. Arachidonic acid - Omega 9 (animal fat sources, our bodies produce their own)

Lipids refer to fats and other compounds which resemble fat. There are 3 classifications of lipids:

1. Simple lipids are esters of glycerol and fatty acids (monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides).

2. Compound lipids are combinations of simple lipids with nonlipid substances (phospholipids, glycolipids and lipoproteins).

3. Derived lipids are substances produced during the breakdown of simple and compound lipids, such as cholesterol, which is an essential component of brain and nerve tissue, all cell membranes increase flexibility and stability, can be converted into hormones, bile and Vitamin D, digestion, steriod hormones and Ergosterol (used in the metabolism of Vitamin A.  The body produces about 1000ml of cholesterol per day and adjusts this amount downward if a person has a high intake of dietary cholesterol.

Classifications by degree of saturation of fat:

1. Unsaturated 

• have carbon atoms for hydrogen atom bonding, which is critical to helping the body remove gydrogen ions which accumulate as a result of metabolism.  Too much hydrogen in the body results in acidosis and enzyme deactivation.

• are usually liquid at room temperature.

• are divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids; monounsaturated fatty acids can only bind one hydrogen atom while polyunsaturated fatty acids can gind to two or more gydrogen atoms, ie., Linolenic acid (Omega 3).

• plant fats are predominantly unsaturated

• cell membranes composed of UFA are more flexible, divide more efficiently and promote a quicker exchange of nutrients and wastes.

2. Saturated

• have all carbon atoms bound to hydrogen atoms

• are solid at room temperature

• found in animal fat

• considered to dangerous type of fat and assoicated with artherosclerosis and high levels of cholesterol.

Note:  Generally, unsaturated fats are found in vegetables and saturated fats are found in animal fat;  however, there are always exceptions such as coconut oil, which is mostly saturated and fish oil, or poultry witch is mostly unsaturated.

Function of Fats

• Fat protects the spleen, pancreas, bladder and liver, and are protected from injury by making the abdomen a fat depository.  

•Fat accounts for almost half of the make up of the abdominal cavity.  Fat provides warmth and guards against the loss of excessive heat.

• Fat give us energy.  Gram for gram, fat gives us twice as many calories and the same amount of carbs or proteins.  Fat must be present to convert carbs or protein to energy.  Dairy acid is necessary in the diet.

• Fat is needed for absorbtion and digestion of oil soluble nutrients.  Vitamins A, D, E and K are absorbed in fatty acids.  Fats are needed for calcium absorbtion.

• Fat is the major ingredient in the insulation of nerve fibers since the myelin sheaths which protect and insulate the nerve are made of fat.

• Some fats are essential because the body cannot make linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids on its own.

• Cell membranes are composed of fat and therefore require fat to reproduce.

• Fatty acids are related to hormones in the body.  Sufficient hormones are present when the adrenal, pituitary and pancreas glands are operating properly.  The fatty (adipose) tissue of the body produces fatty acids, and their utilization is triggered by the hormone, insulin, which depresses their release while adrenaline, ACTH, glucagon and growth hormones cause an increase in their release.

• Prostaglandins are lipids associated with various embranes in the body ad act as hormone-like substances.

• Fat is fuel.  Carbs simply do no supply as much energy per gram as fat.  Protein is only a secondary source of energy since it takes extra energy for the body to convert protein into fuel. Fat supplies the most efficient energy to the body.

• Fats are used in the production of many crucial body substances. Hemoglobin, the pigment that enables red bloods cells to carry oxygen to all parts of the body, is a lipid and a type of fatty acid.

Digestion of Fat

• Fats remain in the stomach up to 3 1/2 hours after ingestion.

• Bile salts emulsify and reduce fats into smaller particles.

• Lipase in pancreatic secretions hydrolyzes triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.

LNH

Flossing: It's Not Just About Your Teeth

My funny dentist once told me I only need to floss the teeth I want to keep.  He's right.  But while I was in school for Naturopathy, I learned there are many other reasons to floss and how important good oral hygiene is to achieving and maintaining good health.

Research shows there is a connection between periodontitis (inflammation of the gums) and heart disease. Poor dental hygeine can contribute to a chronic low-level contribution to the bloodstream of bacteria and their toxins, which damage blood vessels and elicit an inflammatory response. Inflammation causes a cascade of health problems.

Need help?  Make your life easy and get yourself a cordless toothbrush.  It will have a two minute timer on it so you will be able to effectively and efficiently hit every surface.  Then take an extra minute or two and floss between every tooth -- that's right -- only an extra minute or two of prevention could save big money in dental and medical bills, and weeks (or more) of sick time down the road.  

Side effect: You'll feel and look better.

OC

The Truth About Carbohydrates

There's been a lot of talk and confusion about Carbohydrate consumption -- no carbs? low carbs? all carbs? So what's the right answer?  The truth is that Carbohydrates are essential to good health.  

Carbohydrates are compounds which consist of carbon, plus hydrogen and oxygen in the same proportion as the are found in water.  Carbohydrates are synthesized in plants with the help of sunlight from the carbon dioxide of air and water.  They are primarily obtained from plant sources and are the cheapest, most easily obtainable nutrients and the most rapidly digested forms of fuel for the body.  

There are 3 groups of Carbohydrates - Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Polysaccharides

1. Monosaccharides - single sugars

• Glucose - main source of energy for cells

• Fructose - fruits, vegetables and honey

• Galactose - one of the end products of lactose digestion

2. Disaccharides (2 simple sugars)

• sucrose (invert or table sugar)

• lactose (milk)

• maltose (malt sugar - grains)

3. Polysaccharides - complex carbohydrates made up of multiple monosaccharides, that break down slowly

• starch - grains, beets, potatoes

• glycogen - animal starch and the form in which we store carbs in the liver and muscle

• cellulose - provides roughage for gastrointestinal health

• hemicellulose - bran, an undigestible grain fiber

Function of Carbohydrates

• Provides energy and act as fuel for muscles, including the heart

• Fuel for the nervous system

• Carbohydrates function in the liver as a protective and detoxifying agent

• Carbohydrates in the liver have a regulating influence on protein and fat metabolism

• Carbohydrates tend to conserve water and electrolytes in the body, as they hold potassium and sodium

• Carbohydrates prevent muscle wasting, as they are used first for energy production and spare protein for muscle synthesis

• Fermentation of lactose encourages growth of normal bacterial flora

• Carbohydrate lactose appears to increase calcium retention

Blueberries are an excellent source of Carbohydrates, and research shows they are great brain food, too. As you know, LNH is a big supporter of organic produce.  That said, we realize organic produce may be difficult to find in some areas.  Conventionally grown blueberries do not hold high quantities of pesticides as other fruits (such as conventionally grown strawberries).  So wash them well and enjoy!

LNH