100 Year Old Athlete: What's his diet?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW1q6EmuebR/?igsh=MWJ2ZHcwcDhnbDE2MQ==

Does High Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease?

In this post, Dr. Layne Norton (Mediterranean diet proponent) discusses the very real connection between high cholesterol and heart disease.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_Q1OCnyVF9/?igsh=MXJsZmd2ejQ4NndmNg==

84 grams of easy Vegan Protein

Amazing Vegan Cancer Story

"In 1991, at 69 years old, Mike Fremont was diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer. 

His doctors gave him 3 months to live without surgery. He declined the operation and adopted a whole food plant-based diet. 

Two years later, he had surgery to remove the tumor and the doctors found no metastasis.

A lifelong athlete, Mike holds several world records in running and canoe racing, proving that dedication to health can lead to extraordinary results.

As a 32-year cancer survivor and centenarian, Mike Fremont is a true inspiration, demonstrating that thriving on a plant-based diet is not only possible but powerful!" (LINK)

"In 1991 Mike was aged 69. “I contracted a cancer which the Cleveland Clinic said would kill me in 3 months unless operated upon. I said no, I was going on a diet! The tumor had metastasized into my lymphatic system and would have required efforts to treat the metastases with radiation and/or chemotherapy (with questionable results in those earlier days). In 2 and a quarter years the tumor began to bleed, I was operated upon.”

“The surgeon looked for metastasis in 35 places and found zero. In other words my Macrobiotic Diet, becoming a Vegan Diet, becoming a whole-Foods Plant-Based Diet, killed the metastases! The results of the diet have been perfect and it has been since that diet that all my world records have come about as well as such distinction in the U.S.” (LINK)

Food > Supplements

If you're avoiding certain foods that humans have historically consumed, you will have to take a lot of supplements. The longer I live, the more I believe that getting our nutrition from pills is inadequate. 

Pills are often poorly absorbed, since the body doesn't recognize them as food. Also, they lack the combination effect that helps absorption: Certain minerals and vitamins increase absorption of other minerals and vitamins. 

In addition, there is a lot that science does not know about the human body. There are likely dozens of important vitamin and mineral combinations that are yet to be discovered. Science is constantly making new discoveries in this area. 

I'm not saying supplements don't work. I'm just saying food works better (usually). This isn't an absolute statement. But I generally believe that getting our nutrition from a cocktail of pills every morning is inadequate. 

Plant Based Cancer Success Story

As a forward, this site does not claim to cure or prevent any disease. I am not a doctor or a medical professional. 

With that being said, this is an amazing story this man is sharing about his plant based success story. Personally I do believe in a mostly plant based diet that includes some fish (similar to the Chris Wark diet). Anyways, here's his exciting story!

Health Benefits of eating Wild Caught Fish

Traditional Okinawa =  one of the world's "Blue Zones"

"While the average life expectancy in the United States is 76.4 years, it’s 84 years old in Japan – and five times as many people from Okinawa live to be 100 years as their peers in the rest of the country" (Link). The traditional Okinawan diet includes soy, beans, sweet potatoes, green tea and fish (among other foods).

How much fish do Okinawans eat?

"The traditional Okinawa diet actually only includes three servings of fish per week. Consuming these omega-3s boasts many anti-inflammatory benefits, including supporting healthy blood pressure, heart health, and brain function" (Link).

Omega 3 deficiency problems:

Now let's look at a single case study of a long-term raw vegan who had a stroke (anecdotal evidence, I know). When they looked at his blood, they found that his omega 3's were incredibly low. Here's the video.

At about 30 minutes into the above video, Mr. Norman discusses how algae supplements are often inferior, simply because it's hard to find the deep sea types of algae that salmon often eat. Also, hexane is often used in processing the oil from the algae. Of course, some algae supplements are better than others.

Humans have eaten fish throughout history, evidenced by our need for omega 3 fatty acids, B12, iodine and many other foods. Sure, some people do great on a vegan diet. However, others do far better eating our ancestral and "species specific" diet that includes some animal products (such as wild caught fish).

Here's a link where RFK talks about eating Northern Pike on a daily basis.

1) Eating wild caught fish can improve mood. Wild caught fish is high in B12, vitamin D, vitamin A, iodine and Omega 3 fatty acids. All of these things work together to improve mood (Link).

2) Eating wild caught fish can improve libido. (Link)

3) Eating wild caught fish can improve your eyes. (Link)

Do you like whales? 

Did you know that whales eat roughly 5,500 pounds of fish per day (link)? Now that you know this fact... do you still like whales? I guess my point is that eating your ancestral diet (for health reasons) does not inherently make you "evil."

Moving Away from Veganism

I often feel like I'm living in a state of being "one supplement away" from curing my deficiencies. 

Iodine, zinc, B12, selenium, algae DHA, ALA, vitamin D, protein powder, B complex, probiotics, etc. 

To be honest, I'm getting tired of endlessly researching and buying expensive supplements. And then when I take the supplements, I'm still not feeling as good as when I have a piece of salmon or an egg.

There's something that I'm missing, and I don't know what it is. And I'm a smart guy. I've done endless research. 

Yes, I'm venting here. Not throwing in the towel. But also... I'm not committing to anything either except a journey towards optimal health. 

2024 New Year's Health Resolutions/Refinements

I'd like to stop eating junk food before bed. I often get hungry at night and turn to a bowl of cereal or maybe something even worse. It is adding weight to my belly. I'd like to cut this habit and lose this weight. I'd also like to do more cardio at the gym to slim down. I feel I'm strong. But I also feel I have a serious layer of fat covering up any muscle that I do have. I'd love to increase muscle and burn fat in the coming year. I feel the best way to do this is stopping eating at night. One thing that might help me do this is herbal tea. I'm hoping that drinking herbal tea reduces my cravings for junk food. Another option would be to do intermittent fasting in the morning. However, I love smoothies and I don't know how to make smoothies on the road. I'm really at a loss for what to do here, but am open to ideas.

Eggs and Diabetes

"In this large prospective study, we have demonstrated that daily consumption of at least one egg is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in both men and women, independently of traditional risk factors for type 2 diabetes." (Link)

In another study, "High intake of the food groups red meat, low-fiber bread and cereal, dried beans, fried potatoes, tomato vegetables, eggs, cheese, and cottage cheese and low intake of wine characterized the pattern, which was positively associated with both biomarkers. With increasing pattern score, the odds of diabetes increased significantly" (Link).

This video goes through many studies about eggs and diabetes. "People who ate no eggs were the least likely to develop diabetes."

Here's a video of Mayor Eric Adams talking about reversing his diabetes with a vegan diet:

2 Meals a Day (for weightloss)

Intermittent fasting doesn't need to be every day. It can be as little twice a week, for example. However, the main goal is to create space between meals. There are multiple ways to do intermittent fasting. Below I listed a few options.

____________________________________________________

- First Option ("Long Method"): Eat in the morning before I head out. 

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Dr. Becky Gillaspy promotes 2 meals a day as one weight loss option. At 4:57 in the below video, she discusses the "Long Method" of intermittent fasting. Which basically means an early breakfast and a late dinner.

Sadh Guru says that "2 meals a day" is a good option, which many Indians naturally follow. He presents one option: 8 hours between your first meal (10 AM) and your 2nd meal (7 pm).

- 2nd Option ("Short Method"): Don't eat until 2pm at the earliest. 

Pack a Lunch (salad, sandwich, smoothie, stir fry, sandwich, etc.) - One way to achieve this method of eating is by packing a lunch. If I forget to do this, I can consider a salad bar such as Whole Foods. Some people also get creative with cooking on the road.

Feast for Dinner - Vegan bodybuilder Brian Turner often eats only one meal a day (OMAD). But he doesn't skimp on calories. This meal, for example, has over 3,000 calories!

How to Get Enough Choline on a Plant Based Diet

How much choline per day?

The ESFU (European Food and Safety Authority) recommends 400mg of choline daily for adults (Link).

Benefits of choline

"Numerous studies confirm a key role for cholinergic nerve transmission in sexual responses. Simply speaking, with too little ACh (acetyl-choline), sexual activity goes down. Increase ACh levels, and sexual activity goes up." (Link).

Eggs are loaded with choline.

For vegetarians and omnivores, free-range egg yolks are very high in choline (roughly 147 mg per egg yolk). Note that 2 eggs also have 374 mg of cholesterol, which is over the daily recommended limit of 300mg for  preventing heart disease, or 200mg for those with heart disease LINK

Which plant based foods have choline?

Most plant foods have choline. Tofu, soy milk, flax seeds, broccoli, beans, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, peanut butter, mushrooms and qunioa are just a few of the vegan foods that are relatively high in choline. 

A smoothie that contains soy milk, a banana, pea protein powder and flax seeds will really help boost your choline for the day: 

According to one source, "Flax seeds and pistachio nuts have 70 to 80 mg per 3-oz serving" (Link).

Another source says, "In 50g of flax seeds (1/3 cup), there is 39mg of choline" (Link). 

"1 cup of soy milk contains ~57mg choline" (Link)

"Even one banana has 11.6 mg of choline" (Link).

"And when it comes to choline, green peas reign supreme, with over 45 mg per one cup cooked—all the more reason to start including them in more dishes" (Link).

A burrito bowl with tofu, black beans and avocado is another great source

1/2 cup of tofu contains ~35mg of choline. 

1 cup of black beans contain 56 mg of choline.

1 avocado contains roughly 25 mg of choline.

Add in broccoli to your dishes for extra choline.

"Choline is present in most green vegetables but most heavily concentrated in broccoli. One cup of cooked broccoli has more than 60 milligrams of choline, which makes it an excellent source for people who avoid meat and dairy products (Link).

Can you have too much choline?

One quite bizarre study reported that, "After 6 weeks of regular choline assumption, the [79 year old] patient showed a pathological increase in libido with sexual urges. As choline was withdrawn, the hypersexuality disappeared within 5 days (Link).

Why I'm "mostly Plant Based," not "fully vegan"

First of all, I generally eat a plant-based diet. I agree with many of the beliefs found in veganism. However, I don't agree on everything. Below are some disagreements I have with some of the more militant vegan activists.

1) We don't know everything. Prior to the discovery of B-12 in 1947, humans have been omnivores for as long as history records. This "ancestral diet" involves many different nutrients, vitamins and minerals. But it also involves interactions - or certain essential pairings for optimal absorption. While our top scientists understand many of these things, I'm also convinced they don't know everything. 

2) "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1). I prefer a tolerant and understanding mindset when approaching a historically omnivore species (humans). I feel that constant anger is detrimental to one's health. Some vegans can be downright cruel to those who exit the lifestyle. We must understand that dogs, cats, fish, whales, dolphins, birds, humans and many other species are not historically vegan. However, this is not a justification of cruelty found in factory farms or gluttonous lifestyles. 

3) Because of soy, gluten and nut allergies, some people do better on their ancestral diet (which includes animal products). This is where I'd prioritize health over ideology, personally. If someone is truly struggling to be healthy on an entirely vegan diet, I'm OK with them trying out non-vegan options, especially when those options are humanely raised.

Mikhaila Peterson seemed to only improve on a meat based diet. Either I can accept that I don't know everything, or I can judge her. I prefer the first option.

4)  While all of the blue zones were mostly plant-based, none of the blue zones were fully vegan. Yes, there are vegans living among the 7th Day Adventists, who did quite well in the Blue Zones studies. But the five blue zones including Ikaria Greece, Okinawa Japan, Nicoya Costa Rica, Sardinia Italy, Loma Linda California, all included a small amount of animal protein. It's easy to forget that veganism wouldn't even be possible without the discovery of B-12, which happened in the 20th century. DHA omega 3 from algae is another example of a modern breakthrough which allows vegans to be healthy. 

5) Supplements and planning can be pricey, ineffective and exhausting. Yes, I know that B12 is technically the only supplement vegans need for survival. However: zinc, Omega 3 DHA, Vitamin D, Many of the B vitamins, selenium, iodine, choline, iron, protein and many others are often limited on a vegan diet. Maintaining these supplements is an essential part of most vegan diets. 

Much of the world doesn't have access to these supplements. I lived overseas for about 4.5 years (in China) and witnessed true poverty. Many people there work for about a dollar an hour. 

It would be absurd to ask someone in this income bracket to purchase a $30 algae supplement for their DHA omega 3's or a $60 container of pea protein. Also, trusting the quality of these supplements is a huge problem in China and other countries.

6) Even vegan restaurants kill rats and mice, and it's probably a "necessary evil." 

Be honest, do you really want rat droppings on your black bean burger? Landlords generally take care of rodent issues for their tenants, including vegan restaurants. Sure, there's always the remote possibility that the rodents are caught and brought to another place. Is this likely, especially in a city setting? Absolutely not. Landlords are generally too busy to be driving rats and mice around. And dropping these rodents off in a forest is generally a death sentence anyways, according to PETA (Link).

It's also noteworthy that mice and rats will generally do anything possible to return to their homes and families (aka our favorite vegan restaurants or even our bedrooms), even from miles away. 

7) Nobody is 100% vegan. Yes, vegans generally do a far better job at protecting animals than those eating factory-farmed meat. Vegans also generally use less land, since much of the grains grown in the world end up feeding animals for meat.

However, even vegan farms require deforesting, which destroys animal homes and habitats. Simply mowing the lawn kills rodents and insects. Rodents and other animals are killed during combine harvesting. Farms often require pesticides and insecticides that kill bees and other insects. Roadkill is possible for anyone who owns cars. 

8) Some prominent vegans (including "Vegan Gains") call for "culling" or killing predatory animals. This is absolutely absurd in my mind, as it would involve killing most species of fish and birds, who often eat smaller fish. insects or even smaller rodents. The only time I'd be in favor of killing an animal is to use it as food, when other better foods aren't available.

9) I do believe in promoting my own species over other species. While fish often eat smaller fish, they will almost never eat their own species (Link). This "speciesism" is true throughout the animal kingdom.  If I had to choose between the life of a human or an animal, I would protect a human. Some vegans make no such distinction. 

10) Factory farming and gluttony are huge problems. I'm actually in agreement with most vegan ideals and principles. I'm also 100% against the evils of factory farming. Currently, I eat a plant-based diet. That being said, I personally put health and science before any sort of ideology, rather than vice versa.

11) Eating a big fish saves many small fish. Most fish are omnivores, and hunt insects or even other small fish. So for those who eat big fish, they are effectively saving the lives of many smaller fish.

12) "I like whales." The simple statement, "I like whales" is extremely anti vegan. Why? Because whales eat roughly 5,500 pounds of fish PER DAY (2,500 kg) (Link)! These lovable creatures are killing machines, and yet I don't judge them for it. Their natural diet is fish. They are entitled to eat their natural diet, as are humans. 

Delicious and high protein plant based breakfast

BBQ Tofu with avocado. Delicious, 40g of protein, plus healthy fats and Lutein. 

Increasing Vegan Libido

Selenium, zinc and choline are 3 essential nutrients for sexual health. And without careful planning, it's easy for vegans to become deficient in these 3 nutrients. Fortunately, there are vegan options available (listed below). 

For men especially, a 25mg daily zinc supplement is a good place to start. Many men will see improvements just by taking zinc. Listed below, there are dietary ways to get these minerals as well.

Plant based foods containing minerals essential for sexual health:

	Selenium	Zinc	Choline
Pumpkin Seeds	9.4 mcg	6.6 mg	60 mg
Cashews	19 mcg	5.7 mg	17 mg
Flax Seeds	2.6 mcg	4.34	78 mg
Pistachios	7 mcg	2.34 mg	70 mg
Pea Protein	7 mcg	2.3 mg	45 mg
Sunflower Lecithin (1200 mg capsule)	0	0	360 mg
Brazil Nuts	91 mcg	0.2 mg	1.5 mg
Tofu (4 oz.)	17 mcg	1.8 mg	106 mg
Black Beans	2.1 mcg	1.9 mg	45 mg
Broccoli	2.3 mcg	0.5 mg per cup	40 mg
Oatmeal	13 mcg	3 mg per cup	17 mg
Avocados	1 mcg	1 mg	14 mg

Tips for Vegans (not medical advice)

1) Eat More Nuts. One study which looked at nut consumption said that, "Compared to the control group, a significant increase in the orgasmic function and sexual desire was observed during the nut intervention... Including nuts in a regular diet significantly improved auto-reported orgasmic function and sexual desire." (Link) 

Nuts are a great way for vegans to get enough zinc in the diet. "The highest concentration of zinc in the male’s body is found within the testes and prostate. This is because zinc is required for sperm production and more importantly testosterone synthesis" (Link). Pumpkin seeds, pistachios, cashews, pea protein, black beans, avocados, whole grain bread, etc. are all high in zinc.

"A 1996 study showed a very clear relationship between zinc and testosterone levels. Young men were fed a diet including very little zinc so that they developed a zinc deficiency. Testosterone levels were measured and there was a significant decrease (almost 75 percent) after 20 weeks of a low-zinc diet. The study also examined zinc supplementation in elderly men. Researchers showed that with increased zinc intake, testosterone levels in the elderly population almost doubled." (Link)

Brazil nuts are also a great way to get enough selenium in the diet. "Erectile dysfunction can be caused due to a lack of selenium in the body. Selenium deficiency has also been linked to decreased motility, low sperm count, and unusual morphology. Men must consume selenium and maintain optimal levels in order to have a stronger sex drive" (Link).  In addition to Brazil nuts: Pumpkin seeds, oatmeal, tofu, broccoli, black beans, spinach, white button mushrooms and chia seeds all have selenium.

2) Eat Choline rich foods or consider sunflower lecithin (or add free range eggs back into your diet). 

"Numerous studies confirm a key role for cholinergic nerve transmission in sexual responses. Simply speaking, with too little ACh (acetyl-choline), sexual activity goes down. Increase acetyl-choline levels, and sexual activity goes up." (Link). One quite bizarre study reported that, "After 6 weeks of regular choline assumption, the [79 year old] patient showed a pathological increase in libido with sexual urges. As choline was withdrawn, the hypersexuality disappeared within 5 days (Link).

The ESFU (European Food and Safety Authority) recommends 400mg of choline daily for adults (Link).

"Choline is present in most green vegetables but most heavily concentrated in broccoli. One cup of cooked broccoli has more than 60 milligrams of choline, which makes it an excellent source for people who avoid meat and dairy products (Link).

"1/2 cup of tofu contains ~35mg of choline. The better sources are actually edamame and soy milk. 1 cup soy milk contains ~57mg choline and a cup of edamame is ~87mg." (Link)

3) Eat More Fats:  

According to one major study involving over 3,000 men, "Men adhering to low fat diets had lower serum testosterone levels even when controlling for comorbidities, age, body mass index and activity levels." (Link).

Another study on Virgin Coconut Oil said that people who ate coconut oil daily had a higher sex drive than those who didn't (Link).

As one person on Reddit put it, "The majority of the time when I am vegan I am eating plenty of fats. Lots of nut butters, seeds, and avocados. While eating like this, my sex drive and testosterone feel great.

However, when I dial down the fat, the sex drive/testosterone plummets like a rock. The longest I ever did low fat vegan was like 2 months and it never got better. And I do get enough calories for sure and I supplement b-12, D, and algae Omega 3" (Link).

4) Avoid masturbation and porn: One study from 2020 included over 2,000 participants. This study concluded that, "The amount of porn a man watches is linked to ED. More porn equals more ED." (Link)

"Another study from 2003 measured hormone levels, including testosterone, during a masturbation-induced orgasm both before and after 3 weeks of abstinence from masturbation. Data revealed that testosterone levels were higher after the 3-week abstinence period" (Link).

5) Eat a lot of omega 3 and consider a good DHA/EPA Omega 3 supplement. "A 2020 study of 1,694 young male participants found that those who used fish oil supplements had larger testes and higher semen volume and quality.

They also had a better-looking follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone profile. These are two important hormones that control sperm production. (Link).

6) Take vitamin D (or get adequate sunlight): "According to research in the Journal of Endocrinology. sufficient levels of vitamin D are associated with higher levels of testosterone and better erectile function. What's more, the researchers concluded that supplementing with vitamin D improves sexual function" (Link). 

7) Consider Citrulline: "A small 2011 study in 24 men with mild ED... found that taking 1.5 g of L-citrulline daily significantly improved symptoms in 50% of participants after 1 month" (Link).

8) Consider Tongkat Ali or Ashwagandha - "One study found that men experienced a 37% boost in their testosterone levels after taking a tongkat ali supplement for 12 weeks. Four weeks into the study, participants who were given 200 mg of tongkat ali experienced a 28% increase in free testosterone" (Link).

9) Daily exercise: "A host of new research has revealed how exercise impacts your sexual well-being. It turns out that regular exercise can boost your libido, improve your sex life, and reduce the chances of experiencing pain during sex" (Link).

10) Eat Vitamin E Rich Foods (Sunflower seeds, almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, cashews, avocados, etc.). 

"Vitamin E promotes the creation of substances called prostaglandins, as well as testosterone, which all promote good blood flow to pelvic organs and the brain, and are important to a vibrant sex drive." (Link).

How I'm Feeling off Coffee

I love the taste of coffee. It's one of my favorite tasting drinks in the world. I also think it has some benefits as well. These are some of the reasons I've found it very hard to quit this decade-long habit. 

Yet, I've struggled with afternoon "crashes" where I feel gloomy, tired and even a bit depressed. I've noticed it more when I drink more coffee in the mornings. There's definitely a pattern, and so I've taken up the difficult task of quitting coffee recently. 

It's been about a week now since I've had any coffee. And honestly, I'm loving it. Yes, the first few days were tough. But I took some Advil as needed, and it kept the headaches at bay. Now I'm drinking Dandy Blend or Teeccino (coffee alternatives) in the morning instead of coffee, and green tea in the afternoons. 

The best benefit I've noticed from quitting coffee is that my evenings aren't filled with depression like before. I tend to feel positive in the evenings this past week, rather than depressed and gloomy. It's been a significant switch, and it's quite nice to rid myself of the typical evening gloom. 

For these reasons... I'm hoping I can keep coffee out of my diet for good. 

Interesting Thoughts on Eucalyptus Essential Oil

As a forward, I am not a medical professional and am not giving medical advice. This article is pasted in context of observing one person's opinion on the topic.

The following article is copied from: https://mygoodnessessentials.com.au/is-eucalyptus-essential-oil-safe-to-ingest/

The question of whether an oil such as Eucalyptus can be ingested or not is one that comes up regularly and we know it can be a confusing topic.

On one hand we have straight Eucalyptus which directs us to use only topically and aromatically on the bottle yet we can ingest the On Guard oil blend, toothpaste and throat drops each which contain Eucalyptus.

Paracelsus wrote in 1530 “all things are poisons. It is only the dose which make a thing poison”.
Even water and coffee which are normally harmless may cause illness or death if taken in excess.
Keep this in mind ok as we continue on…..

Firstly there almost 900 species of Eucalytpus and they all possess different chemistry profiles.
Some have really high Cineole content others have really high Citronella or Limonene contents so we can’t throw them all into the same basket.

doTerra use Eucalyptus Globulus in it’s On Guard products and Eucalyptus Radiata for the single oil.  The globulus species is GRAS listed as is the chemical compound Eucalyptol which makes up a significant portion of the Radiata species as well as several others. Eucalyptus oil from the species Eucalyptus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus both have very similar chemistry and usage. Both oils are not typically recommended for internal use as pure single oils because of their high potency however as mentioned above – it really is a case of the dose makes the poison.

The species used in the common supermarket brand Bositos is Eucalyptus polybractea (Blue Mallee).

When you go deep diving into all the relevant journals of aromatherapy and research available, both globulus and radiata are actually suggested for both internal and external use and funnily enough, in Jamaica for centuries families have traditionally used a drop of Eucalyptus in Honey as a method for dealing with Bronchial infections…..even for kids.

The stories that abound of adverse side effects stem from misuse, in one case accidentally consuming ½ a cup of Eucalyptus oil of unknown origin.

The highly respected and authoritative German Commission E (a governmental regulatory agency composed of scientists, toxicologists, physicians, and pharmacists. Similar to the FDA) monograph on eucalyptus oil under ‘Dosage’ states-
“for internal use, a daily dose of 0.3 to 0.6g. It is acceptable to take eucalyptus oil orally provided the dosage is kept within this use range. It is not advisable to take eucalyptus oil over a long period (a year or more) as it may cause liver damage”.

1 drop of essential oil can be (in general) .02 to .03 grams so this would equate to roughly 10 drops p/day being suggested as safe but only when used with a carrier such as honey, olive or coconut oil. Eucalyptus is an oil that must be used diluted no matter the method of application.

It’s interesting to note that the Bositos Eucalyptus Oil which uses polybractea (Blue Mallee) is considered to the be the strongest and most potent Eucalyptus thanks to it’s super high Cineole content of 85-95%. I think doTerra have specifically steered away from this species because of it’s power, knowing full well that they want to be able to use it safely for both adults and children alike.

Remember that all over the world Eucalyptus is commonly used in cough lozenges, cough syrups, toothpastes, mouth washes and as a flavour ingredient in foods.

It is simply the dose that makes the poison. Eucalyptus oil is toxic if ingested in excessive quantities. Excessive being the key word but excessive use of nearly every essential oil can have adverse affects.

Did you know that Australia is the only country in the world to legislate that products containing 25% or more eucalyptus oil must be labelled poison and packed in a poison container.

Products containing less than 25 per cent eucalyptus oil can be sold without having to be labelled poison, without having to be packed in poison containers and without being sealed with a child-resistant closure. Their use is not restricted in any way.

The TGA simply isn’t willing to risk advising people on the side of the bottle that it can be taken internally as they cannot control the amounts used, quality of the oil ingested or common sense of people using it.

Rest assured that doTerra do know what they are doing. They have an entire team of researchers and scientist’s working to ensure the safety of these oils for us.

There are actually numerous studies that rate the use of Eucalyptus internally (if you are comfortable) for a variety of different oral health and respiratory conditions.

It all boils down to common sense, Eucalyptus is not an oil we would seek to use internally on the daily is it. The same thinking applies to both Tea Tree and Wintergreen essential oils, both of which are also commonly found in over the counter chewing gums, lozenges and food products.

When we perhaps might seek to use it in this manner, we’re not going to chug back 5ml in one sitting because we’re smarter than that and understand that mother nature and her pure potent plant extracts need to be respected and that less is always more.

Hope this is helpful everyone 🙂

What Causes ALS?

 As a forward, I'm not a doctor and this is not medical advice.

"A virus sleeping deep in our DNA for millions of years may be coming back to life in a form of ALS, killing nerve cells and causing their fatal symptoms, government scientists reported Thursday.

And the discovery just might lead to a treatment for ALS, an incurable disease that affects between 12,000 and 20,000 Americans, depending on whom you ask.

The virus is called HERV-K, and it incorporated itself — permanently — into the human genome between 2 and 5 million years ago. It’s a human endogenous retrovirus — an example of nature’s own genetic engineering."

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/ancient-virus-may-cause-crippling-disease-als-study-finds-n436911

B Vitamin Rich Foods for Vegans

1) Nutritional Yeast - This is a food I've recently been eating daily with my salads. The more I read about nutritional yeast, the more I think it's a superfood. It's loaded with B vitamins (including B12 if it's fortified). According to Dr. Axe, nutritional yeast is beneficial in preserving immune function, fighting bacteria and viruses, boosting protein, promoting healthy skin, nails and hair and boosting B12 (fortified version only).

 

2) Avocados - Avocados are a great source of many B vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, B5 and B9 (link). Including guacamole or an avocado with your daily salad is an excellent idea.

3) Flax Seeds - Flax seeds are high in vitamin B17, which many people believe is cancer preventative (Link). In addition to B17, flax is also high in B9 (folate), B1 (thiamin), B3 (niacin) and vitamin B-6 (Link). Flax seeds are truly one of nature's super foods.

4) Whole Grain Breads "Rye, white, whole-wheat and French breads each provide between 0.2 and 0.3 milligram of thiamine per 2-ounce serving -- a significant portion of the 1.1 and 1.2 milligrams that the Institute of Medicine recommends daily for women and men, respectively" (Link).

5) Fortified Plant Milks - Fortified plant milks include B12 and often include other B vitamins as well. Choosing an organic, sugar free option is a healthy way to meet your B vitamin needs on a daily basis.

WellBeing Non Alcoholic Beer Review - "Victory Wheat"

Tried this last weekend. Although it tasted watered down at first, by the end of the beer I was thoroughly enjoying it. It seemed lighter and thinner than any beers I've had before, and that's what threw me off at first. Ultimately though, the lightness of the beer and the orange crisp were actually very refreshing. Kind of reminded me of a citrus Kombucha with a beer finish. Refreshing on a hot summer day.

Overall Score: 8 out of 10