Is Inflammation Making You Fat?

This Could Be the Real Reason You Can’t Lose Weight

Do your pants immediately feel tighter after dinner?

Do you find yourself noticing extra fat around your midsection?

If this sounds familiar, you know how frustrating bloating and stubborn belly fat can be. While self-pity is unproductive, there are things you can do each day to improve these issues by addressing the real cause.

The Real Reason You Feel Fat

Inflammation could be one of the reasons you can’t shed those pounds or get rid of inconvenient bloating. This is great news if you haven’t seen the results you’ve wanted from diet and exercise alone.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is a component of the body’s defense mechanism. For short periods of time, it’s a good thing.

For example, your body will induce a temporary fever to help ward off foreign pathogens when you’re sick.

This causes an intentional inflammatory response aimed at making you better.

However, long-term inflammation is different. Long-term inflammation is caused by food intolerances, stress, and poor digestion. When left unchecked, this can cause fat-storing hormones to be released excessively.

How to Lose the Fat Caused by Inflammation

Here are some of the top inflammation-fighting practices you can get started on right now:

1. Remove Inflammatory Foods

These inflammatory foods tax your body and immune system and can lead to increased body fat. Try to remove the following foods and ingredients from your diet and household:

✦ Gluten
✦ Dairy
✦ Corn
✦ Eggs
✦ Soy
✦ Nuts
✦ Nightshades

tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, eggplants

✦ Citrus
✦ Yeast

baker’s yeast, brewer’s yeast, and fermented products like alcohol

2. Remove Added Sugar 

Sugar has an immediate effect on the body and causes widespread inflammation.

A little natural sugar found in fruits is okay, but added sugar or sweeteners should be avoided.

Added sugar can even be found in food that doesn’t taste sweet, such as soup, bread and salad dressing. Get in the habit of checking nutrition labels and steer clear of foods with added sugar.

3. Reduce Your Salt Intake

Sodium blocks normal hormone signals that make you feel full.

This is why salty foods tend to make you overeat even when you’re not hungry.

Check the sodium content of foods and sauces in your home and keep track of how much you consume each day. When possible, prepare your foods at home and use spices instead of salt.

4. Take Curcumin (Active component inside Turmeric root)

Curcumin is the powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient inside turmeric that has incredible healing properties known to fight inflammation and oxidative stress.

Lowering oxidative stress can help regulate the release of fat-storing hormones, which makes it easier to lose weight.

This is a must-have in your daily routine if you want to combat stubborn fat caused by inflammation.

5. Try Icelandic Sea Kelp

Icelandic Sea Kelp contains fucoidan, an anti-inflammatory complex carbohydrate that fights oxidative stress.

The fiber in sea kelp also helps you feel full, which can help promote weight loss.

6. Add a Little Ginger To Your Drinks & Meals

Ginger is an amazing anti-inflammatory agent that helps support healthy digestion. It’s great for upset stomachs and can easily be added to water if your tummy needs a pick-me-up!

7. Astragalus

Astragalus is an incredible plant that supports the immune system, also known as an adaptogen.

Adaptogens are activated by stress and help lower cortisol levels in the body. Maintaining low, healthy cortisol levels is essential for weight loss.

8. Eat More Pineapple

Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain, which helps break down protein and reduce bloating.

Pineapples are one of the only fruits that leave alkaline residuals in the gastrointestinal tract to help decrease inflammation.

With a little patience and these tips, you can fight bloating and stubborn belly fat caused by inflammation. It's never too early to start, and this might be the push you needed to finally fit into those skinny jeans!

13 Power Foods That Help Detox the Body

13 Power Foods That Help Detox the Body 

 

Springtime is usually the most popular time for people to consider and make the decision to do a detox program. Most of these brave and committed soldiers are forced to choose between dozens of media popularized detoxes, most of which are expensive, abusive to the colon or too  low in calories.

Beneficial detoxes should help the body eliminate and neutralizing toxins from the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and skin, and also help to rebuild damaged tissues through the detoxification process (done only by replenishing the body of phytochemicals, macronutrients and the right amount of calories).

Because there are so many programs out there, and picking the exact detox program right for your own body and life situation can be overwhelming.

Below is a list of top detoxing foods that will help in the day to day elimination of accumulated body toxins.  

1. Beets

✵ High in B3, B6 and C vitamins. Rich in beta-carotene.

✵ Known for being abundant in iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium— which aid in successful detoxification and elimination processes in the body.

✵ Supports good gallbladder and liver functioning (organs that are important for breaking down and removing toxins).

✵ High in fiber and improves digestion while eliminates bodily waste. 

 2. Lemons

✵Super alkaline-forming and high in vitamin C. 

✵Stimulates the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that can be easily excreted from the body. 

✵Drinking warm lemon water, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach help to balance out the acidity of foods previously consumed. 

3. Grounded Flaxseeds

✵Great source of fiber that helps to bind and flush toxins from the intestinal tract. 

✵Great source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. 

4. Garlic

✵Wards against vampires. 

✵Powerful antiviral, antiseptic and antibiotic. 

✵Kills pathogenic microbes and can reduce endogenous toxins (poisons made by the body). 

5. Turmeric

✵Every kitchen should have this super herb, turmeric, stocked. 

✵Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, which gives it its yellow color. 

✵The rate at which your detox pathways function depends on your genes, your age, lifestyle and a good supply of nutrients involved in the detox process. 

✵Curcumin is used a lot in Ayurvedic Medicine to treat liver and digestive disorders. 

6. Basil or Sabja Seeds 

✵Aids in digestion 

✵Antispasmotic, and is used in treating colds and the flu. 

✵Due to its carminative effects, it is effective for treating digestive disorders such as stomach cramps, flatulence, constipation, irregular bowel movements and indigestion.

7. Sea Vegetables

✵Seaweeds and sea kelp are power house antioxidants that help to alkalize the blood and strengthen the digestive tract. 

✵The algin in seaweeds absorb toxins from the digestive tract. 

✵Perhaps one of the healthiest foods on the planet, blue green algae and sea vegetables offer the broadest range of minerals of any food, containing virtually all the minerals found in the ocean -- the same minerals that are found in human blood. 

✵Eat sea vegetables daily. 

8. Alfalfa and Broccoli Sprouts 

✵Highly alkaline forming in the body. 

✵Sprouts are part of the powerhouse brassica family of vegetables. 

✵The broccoli sprouts, in particular, when chewed, release substances that break into sulphorophanes, indole-3-carbinol and D-glucarate, which all have a specific effect on detoxification. 

✵Broccoli sprouts can actually provide more benefit than regular broccoli as they contain 20 times more sulfurophane. 

9. Artichokes and Asparagus

✵Both superfoods have been shown to increase bile production and purify as well as protect the liver. 

✵They also have a mild diuretic effect on the kidneys, ensuring proper removal of toxins once the liver breaks them down. 

 10. Cabbage and Kale

✵"Numerous anti-cancer and antioxidant compounds and helps the liver break down excess hormones. 

✵Deep cleans digestive tract and soothes the stomach, which could in part be due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties. 

✵Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and kale demonstrate powerful detoxification activity, including neutralizing some of the damaging compounds found in cigarette smoke (and second-hand smoke). 

✵They also contain a compound that helps the liver produce adequate amounts of enzymes for detoxification. (LiveStrong.com)" 

 11. Avocados

✵Eat one of these alkaline fruits a day. 

✵Lowers cholesterol and dilates blood vessels while blocking artery-destroying toxicity. 

✵Contains a nutrient called glutathione, which blocks at least 30 different carcinogens while helping the liver detoxify synthetic chemicals. 

✵Researchers at the University of Michigan found that elderly people who had high levels of glutathione were healthier and less likely to suffer from arthritis.  

12. Arugula

✵A culinary staple in Mediterranean cooking, arugula is a type of cruciferous vegetable (like broccoli, kale, and watercress) 

✵Contains a number of compounds that aid in detoxification, such as sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. 

✵Packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium and folate and the phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin, which may protect against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. 

 13. Celery and Parsley

✵Celery has phytochemicals called phthalides, which are responsible for relaxing the muscle tissue in artery walls and increasing blood flow. 

✵Celery is a powerful liver detoxing food and cleaner of the small and large intestinal walls. 

✵Parsley contains vitamin C, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin K and folate, which are all needed by the body for detox. 

✵Raises glutathione levels and may guard against liver dysfunction due to insulin resistance.  

Drinking properly structured clean, filtered, alkaline water, moving the body through exercise and daily distressing is also important to a detox program.  

For more information on detoxing, please stay tuned for more articles. Have a strong and healthy day! 

10 Ways to Kick Start a Change

10 Ways to Kick-Start a Change 

 

Take a positive attitude and try to ingrain some short and simple habits into your daily routine: 

 1. Buy the ‘healthiest’ foods at the grocery store

I don’t mean buy the most expensive food. Buy the healthiest.

Don’t look at the price. You won’t notice at the check-out counter. All the stress happens at the point of decision. Know that your body will feel better in the long run.

2. Try a healthy smoothie for breakfast

Kick the day off right with healthy raw veggies, quality proteins, and natural fats. In 20 minutes, every cell in the body will have benefited from the good-for-you energy.

Try shifting the habit from coffee first thing in the morning for a liquid drink made with fiber and vitamin rich smoothie. Save your black coffee for pre-workout.

 3. Earn your indulgences

If you plan on going ‘off the rails’ with your diet (which I don’t recommend), then at least earn it by doing some moderate physical activity.

 4. Gather all your artificial air fresheners and through them out: ALL OF THEM!

Better yet, look for these toxic products from your home and seek natural replacements to them. These toxins are poisoning you and your family.

1. Non-Stick Cookware

2. Flea and Tick Products

3. Mothballs

4. Air Fresheners

5. Oven Cleaner

6. Furniture Polish and Stain

7. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

8. Gas Space Heaters

9. Cleaning Solutions

10. Extension Cords

11. Antibacterial Soaps

12. Flaking Paint

13. Flame Retardants

 5. Black out your bedroom

Even minimal light can sabotage your sleep. Rejuvenate this weekend. Your body needs it!

6. Slow down and breathe

Our generation is arguably the most stressed in history. Stress will catch up to us. Put things in perspective, stop and breath. Make it an event. Cut the pattern of stress.

7. Guilty until proven innocent

Until GMO foods are proven safe in the long term, avoid them! Why the hell would you put something in your mouth if it could possibly be a time-bomb?

 8. Toss those synthetic creams

How many times have you put on a cream to deal with pain and swelling?

This is obvious proof that our skin absorbs certain chemicals. So, in general, only put organic and preferably food grade products on your body.

 9. Stop rationalizing inaction

Make a definitive decision to stop the pattern of ignorance! You’re only fooling yourself.

The average Canadian will spend the last 10 years of their lives with the disease. Don’t be THAT statistic. Ten years of feeling like you have the flu is a shitty way to embrace aging.

 10. Get involved and BE the movement!

Big things are coming for Ikkuma and our primary motivation is to transform a generation – to effectively change a generation’s health trajectory forever.

Stay tuned. We’ll show you how – in 8 weeks – you can rewrite your future! 

Life is a game of numbers. Put the numbers in your favor and kick some ass! Start this weekend.
By: The Ikkuma Guru, Gary LeBlanc

Gary LeBlanc is the co-founder of the company Ikkuma Inc. – specializing in holistically oriented consumer products – a certified coach practitioner, personal trainer and most recently a published author, with his book titled “Ikkuma: Evolution of Vitality”.  A previous Vice President for a top tier company and perpetual health & fitness advocate, Gary has spent the better part of 20 years researching the latest diet, health and fitness trends. When a close friend got diagnosed with cancer 6 years ago, Gary realized health & wellness was more than an interest, so it became his passion.  He now divides his time between running Ikkuma Inc., coaching at Innate Wellness, consulting and practicing what he preaches with abundant VITALITY!!

They also just came up with an incredible drink that helps to cancel out noise.

https://drinkzerodb.com/

For more information, please visit: www.ikkuma.com

Carbs Are Making Us Fat

Carbs Are Making Us Fat. 

 

❯ Simple science has shown that carbohydrates spike insulin.
❯ Insulin creates sugar.
❯ Sugar turns into fat.
❯ Fat packs on the pounds.

With so many years of our government’s famous food pyramid base promoting the consumption of simple carbohydrates (bread, pasta, potatoes), it is no wonder obesity rates are skyrocketing in numbers.

Most people actually do not know how to prepare meals without such carbohydrates. Think about a breakfast without starches, for example.

We've been programmed to incorporate carbs (especially processed carbs) into our three meals and many snacks so that we can have balanced nutrition. Or so we’re told.   

First thing’s first.

There are many types of carbohydrates which are all a part of the family of carbohydrate compounds:

❧ starch sugar
❧ milk sugar
❧ vegetable sugar
❧ fruit sugar

Not all carbohydrates are created equally. Carbohydrates consumed into the body from an apple is vastly different from the same amount of carbohydrates taken from a chocolate bar.

Sometimes labeled the “good” carb, complex carbohydrates, like whole grains and legumes, contain longer chains of sugar molecules; these usually take more time for the body to break down and use.

There are many sides doctors, nutritionists, athletes and even people with diabetes take when it comes to whether or not carbs should be a part of a person’s nutrition.

Scientifically speaking, carbs in the diet supply our brain with glucose when we study or do any mental work. Also, carbs give the body quick energy during exercise and dietary fiber is also a carb in a very complex form that is indigestible in the human body.

It forms the bulk in our stool and is essential for normal bowel function and evacuate of waste from our bodies. 

From the side of “Carbs are making people fat,” one of the most offending of the carb family is grains (which many people think are healthier than they really are).

Why?

These grains fall into a category called “refined carbohydrates.” Once harvested and shelled, all the protein, nutrients (vitamins and minerals) are taken away (or refined), leaving just a complex carb that has an immediate effect on the body, and raises insulin levels.

When insulin levels rise, it drives calories into fat tissue. Even when you are utilizing your body for active movement—work or exercise, your body can only process so much of the carb at a given time.

What is not used up is stored as fat. What people do not necessarily know is that this constant act of raising insulin is also making people accumulate fat.  

Another point to understand between carbs and the rise in weight is the modern processed carb and what they are made with.

Today’s carbs are processed with incredible amounts of refined sugar and reached new heights in the glycemic index—(meaning it has a lot of sugar in it and causes a faster and higher spike of insulin in the body to be released to balance blood sugars).

Remember:

more insulin=more fat.

There are many studies that report the secretion of insulin beginning with the first thought of foods with carbohydrates!

Below is a link to a great info flow chart on how exactly carbs are making us fat: https://foodtechconnect.com/2012/01/26/infographic-of-the-week-carbs-are-killing-you/ 

 Our bodies are very smart and will give us the urge to crave carbohydrates (if we listen and obey our cravings, we will be more functional, balanced and free from chronic ailments).

The problem is the quality of modern processed foods and the frequency in which we may consume them. These fast and processed foods create an addiction (not different from drug addiction) that tells our brains we need more and more so we may be craving the “bad carbs”fats).

Especially with the high amount of added sugar to the high carb and fatty food—ice cream, cake, doughnuts—and you have a double whammy. High-sugar foods increase your levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite and increases cravings.

In fact, high sugary carbs enhance the memory storage in our brains and release feel-good hormones and endorphins when consumed. 

Studies conducted by scientists at the University of Washington found out that junk foods high in carbohydrates and fat destroy the brain cells that control weight, leading to a vicious circle of obesity, scientists have revealed.

The study also showed the part of the brain containing neurons that control body weight, was inflamed. Surprisingly, after test subjects were taken off the high carb and fat diets, the inflammation stopped a few days later but then recurred after four weeks. 

What are the dangers of eliminating or not consuming enough carbs in our nutrition? 

Many Registered Dietitians argue that most people should always try to have at least 150 to 200 grams of carbs a day because our bodies can only process and utilize about 200 grams of carbs a day.

Not enough carbohydrates will force most bodies to:  

♦ Borrow protein from our muscles and immune system to make more carbs to keep us going. 

♦ Makes us binge-eat carbs until our system is reloaded. It takes 24 hours to re-load all our carbs after exercise greater than 30 minutes. Athletes will binge-eat every 3 days if they do not have enough carbs in their diet. 

♦ We can eat some carbs at least every 4 hours every day to continuously replace the carbs we are using for daily routines and for exercise. 

 

Take away:

Listen to your body and nourish it and give it energy by choosing fresh, made by Mother Earth carbs in the forms of vegetables, fruits and beans, legumes and sprouted whole grains* (barley, corn, oats, quinoa, rice and any other grain that contains the bran, germ and endosperm of the grain).

Limit or eliminate processed and refined carbohydrates that cause inflammation in the body.  

*Whole grains contain all of the parts of the original grain without being processed. They are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and contain some antioxidants that are not found in fruits and vegetables. 

 

Resources: NutritionAssessment.com, FoodandConnect.com, DiabetesMine.com, NPR, CalorieLab.com, MayoClinic, Livestrong, LivingWell.com