Diseases of the brain are rampant in America today, and evidence suggests that a popular class of pharmaceutical drugs may be largely to blame. They’re known as statins, and the science behind how they function in the body reveals that these powerful drugs gradually degrade the brain by depriving it of cholesterol, leading to memory problems, dementia and other similar conditions.

In his book Lipitor: Thief of Memory, Dr. Duanne Graveline, M.D., wrote about his horrific experience with statins, and how they caused him to suffer two transient global amnesia events as well as chronic neuropathy. The former astronaut and aerospace medical research scientist explains how these traumatic events were the direct result of statins altering his brain.

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It’s not difficult to find research exposing the many health benefits of avocados. Studies show that these pear-shaped fruits, which are native to Mexico and Central America, are packed with essential nutrients that can aid weight loss, boost vision and guard us from cancer. Moreover, avocados are rich in antiestrogenic sterols, such as beta-sisterol, that can increase testosterone levels in men and progesterone levels in women.

However, a new study published in the January 2015 edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association has given us another reason to add more avocados to our diets: These delicious fruits can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese adults.

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http://lowcarbmag.com/avocados-can-reduce-the-risk-of-heart-disease-study-finds/

Homer once described olive oil as ‘liquid gold,’ a term that still resonates with many. Fortunately, we do not have to fight wars over olive oil anymore as it is abundantly produced in many parts of the world and readily available. We all know that olive oil is one of the healthiest vegetable oils in the world, along with coconut oil. Not only can you consume this nutritious food and receive numerous benefits, you can also use it to boost the nutrient value of your beauty products.

Adding olive oil to your beauty routine may provide immense benefits to your skin, hair, and nails. Here are some of the olive oil skin benefits you may find surprising.

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A breakthrough study from Harvard’s Peter J. Turnbaugh and Duke’s Lawrence David reveals some of the ways in which our diet shapes our microbiome — and thereby affects our ability to digest various types of food. In 2011, the researchers fed volunteers two very different diets. One group was given a high-protein diet consisting of bacon and eggs, spareribs, brisket, salami, cheese, and pork rinds. The other was fed a very high-fiber diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans. Bacterial analysis of fecal samples collected before, during, and after the experiment showed that what each group ate had a huge — and almost immediate — effect on their gut bacteria.

Lo and behold, each group began to develop the very type of bacteria that would most help them digest the particular types of food they had just eaten. In just 24 hours, meat eaters saw an increase in bacteria that are resistant to bile acids (bile acids are a byproduct of the breakdown of meat). If you’re a meat-eater, you need those bacteria — so the microbiome responded. The vegetarian group had far fewer bile-resistant bacteria, because, given their diet, they didn’t need them. The microbiome was responding to them, too. Even the long-term vegetarian who agreed to eat meat for this study saw a rapid microbial shift.

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While it may seem harmless enough, what you choose to eat for lunch could impact how you feel all afternoon. We all know about the “hangries” — being so hungry that you become cranky and angry — but once you’re fed, your meal can actually enhance or detract from your mental state.

While exercise is also an important factor, eating a diverse diet of healthy, wholesome foods can have an incredible impact on how you feel each and every day.

Here are 5 ways in which the foods you eat (or don’t eat) rule your moods.  

Your morning coffee might do more than perk you up. Researchers suggest it also might help protect you against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Coffee drinkers are less likely to suffer from malignant melanoma, and their risk decreases somewhat with every cup they swallow, according to findings published Jan. 20 in theJournal of the National Cancer Institute.

“We found that four or more cups of coffee per day was associated with about a 20 percent reduced risk of malignant melanoma,” said lead author Erikka Loftfield, a doctoral student at Yale University School of Public Health who is completing her dissertation work at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

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http://lowcarbmag.com/can-coffee-protect-you-from-melanoma/

When was the last time you thought about how food was made, where it came from, whether and if it was chemically treated? With the first ever Non GMO Month around the corner, an awareness campaign launched by the Non GMO Project, perhaps now is a good time to pay attention. As you look at each food item and its ingredients, consider these fundamental unanswered questions concerning genetically modified (GM) foods — which are most foods that you eat today. Disturbingly, while we are force-fed “wholesome” messages about the alleged benefits of GM foods, a decade and a half after the first GM crops went commercial many of the same concerns persist.

Read on and find out whether you want frankenfood to be your next meal.
http://lowcarbmag.com/reasons-to-avoid-gmos/

Black pepper is perhaps the most popular spice in the world, and black, green and white peppercorns all come from the black pepper plant (Piper nigrum), native to Asia. Black pepper is the whole, partially ripened fruit; green is the unripe fruit; and white pepper is derived from the peeled seed. Some reasons to eat black pepper?

1. It is a proven antibacterial agent.
2. It contains compounds that help maintain the integrity of DNA, possibly providing some protection against cancer.
3. It has been known to help calm digestive issues

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We eat certain foods and take supplements to keep our eyes, brain, bones and joints strong and youthful, but do you eat to keep your gut happy and healthy? Lately, there has been an explosion of new products geared for improving gastrointestinal health. Specially fortified yogurts, probiotic supplements in the forms of capsules, powders and liquids, and many other options have been appearing on store shelves, TV shows and in doctor’s offices. These products have been touted to improve digestive health, boost immunity, and relieve inflammation that causes everything from arthritis to eczema. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any label health claims for probiotics.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), “probiotics are live microorganisms (e.g. bacteria) that are either the same as or similar to microorganisms found naturally in the human body and may be beneficial to your health.” Although some bacteria are harmful to humans, we rely on a wide variety of bacteria to help our body function.

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When fructose is discussed, it’s usually not just about normal natural sugars in fruits like apples, pears and watermelons. It’s usually about high-fructose corns syrup (HFCS).

It is ubiquitous in processed foods, especially sodas, because it packs more sweetness per gram than sugar and it’s cheaper. And no matter how much food processors cover it up by labeling ingredients as “corn syrup,” it’s still HFCS.

You’ll get all sorts of disagreements from the corn refiners’ industry, but the overwhelming nutritional scientific evidence proves that you’ll live healthier without it, perhaps even longer.

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http://lowcarbmag.com/fructose-causes-reproductive-problems-earlier-death-study-shows/