ADAPTOGENS: WHAT ARE THEY?

We’re all under stress, whether at home or at work or due to illness. So who wouldn’t like to find something that could boost resistance to the adverse effects of stress? 

A wide variety of herbal compounds are touted for their ability to help the body respond to or recover from physical or psychological stress, as well as for bolstering immunity and general well-being. One group of them is called adaptogens, a term coined in the early 1960s by Israel Brekhman, a Russian scientist.

The concept of adaptogens was based in part on a theory of stress called the “general adaptation syndrome,” proposed by an Austrian endocrinologist, Hans Selye. This basically holds that stress causes the body to go through three stages—preparing for fight or flight, adapting to the stress, and then exhaustion if the stress is long-lasting. Adaptogens are supposed to be a kind of general restorative tonic that counters the effects of stress, normalizes bodily functions, and helps the body heal itself.

Though not accepted by mainstream Western medicine, the concept that adaptogenic herbs can boost strength and vitality is integral to traditional Eastern medicine. As such, these herbs are often promoted as virtual cure-alls—“magic” or “miracle” remedies for everything from boosting mental attention and physical endurance to preventing a host of diseases. (Dr. Oz, in his typical pie-in-the-sky manner, titled one of them a “miracle pill for anti-aging.”) Even one supplement industry group, while praising adaptogens as “powerhouses,” warns that the marketing claims for adaptogens often are exaggerated, misrepresent the research, or are “pure fantasy.”

As with most herbs, there are few well-designed human studies on adaptogens. Moreover, the studies, many of them done in China or India, often use mixtures of herbs, so it’s impossible to know what is having an effect, if there is one.

One key problem is the variability of the herbs. Different species or varieties have different compounds and biological properties, and different parts of the plant (roots, leaves, stems) also contain varying chemicals. How the herbs are processed affects their biological activity as well. Moreover, it’s hard to study the many vague claims. How, for instance, do you measure increased “well-being” or “vitality”? Plus, it’s hard to know what you’re really getting in the bottles, since there is little meaningful regulation of dietary supplements.

That said, here are seven of the most popular adaptogens. Their potential adverse effects are grouped together at the end.

EIGHT FOODS THAT FIGHT ACHES AND PAINS

You know that taking certain supplements can help to combat aches and pains caused by arthritis and other conditions, but did you know that some foods have painkilling and anti-inflammatory properties?
Here are eight foods you might want to put on your plate if you suffer from chronic pain...

Turmeric

A spice commonly used in Indian cooking, turmeric contains the chemical curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can help ease the pain of osteoarthritis and regulate the body's immune response, reducing the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Extra-virgin olive oil

You already know the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. As well as helping you to live longer, it seems that enjoying a diet high in olive oil could help to manage your pain.

Extra-virgin olive oil contains a natural phenolic compound called oleocanthal, which prevents the production of pro-inflammatory COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. This reduces inflammation and eases pain, much in the same way that ibuprofen works. Extra-virgin olive oil from Tuscany is said to have the highest oleocanthal levels.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates might not be something you think to eat every day, but you might want to give them a go if you suffer with chronic pain. The seeds of the fruit contain anthocyanin antioxidants, which reduce inflammation, and ellagitannin antioxidants, which studies show are effective at treating pain. 

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION? WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR HEALTH. PART 2

Can Reducing Inflammation Protect You From Getting Sick?

Much is still unknown, but physicians and researchers do believe it’s preventable and reversible. 

“People who are less inflamed over a long period of time have far less incidence of illness,” says Dr. Dillard.

You can assess your own situation with a quick blood test that measures a liver chemical, C-reactive protein (CRP), which rises in response to inflammation.

This test, available for as little as $35, can help assess your risk of heart attack, especially if you’re younger than 60 and have a family history of heart disease.

Your doctor will explain your results, but CRP levels between 1 and 3 milligrams per liter of blood signal chronic, low-grade inflammation with an intermediate risk of heart disease. Levels above 3 milligrams indicate a high risk.

Related: What to Eat To Stay Ahead Of Inflammation

If your CRP level is above normal, your doctor might suggest that you start taking statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), says Dr. Libby. 

GINGER - A REMEDY TESTED

Used in cooking and herbal medicine around the world, ginger is the rhizome (underground stem) of Zingiber officinale, which grows in warm climates. It contains many interesting compounds. 

The best known of these are called gingerols, which produce the hot sensation in your mouth, as well as the pungent flavor and aroma. Fresh or powdered, pickled or candied, ginger adds a unique zest to any dish.

Like many herbs and plant-derived foods, ginger does great things in the lab (in animals or isolated human cells), but its proven medicinal effects, in real life, remain limited. Studies usually use ginger extracts, which can vary in their chemical composition.

Some findings:

Ginger may have anti-cancer properties. For instance, a lab study from the University of Michigan, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine back in 2007, found that ginger keeps ovarian cancer cells at bay—in a test tube. Similarly, at 2013 lab study in Nutrition and Cancer found that compounds in ginger extract may inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Other studies suggest that ginger may have beneficial effects on breast cancer and colon cancer cells. This is a long way from saying that ginger can prevent or treat cancer in humans, however.

11 FOODS TO AVOID FOR ANTI - INFLAMMATORY EATING.

The one type of diet most systems of medicine agree on is an anti-inflammatory diet. Part of activating your full potential requires altering your eating to reduce and eliminate foods that cause inflammation. Inflammation is an immune response that happens when there is a perceived threat in the body.

 Often this shows up as joint pain and swelling, but many other symptoms including brain fog, depression, and anxiety can also be caused by inflammation.

Some people are more sensitive to gluten, while others need to be careful to avoid sugar and red meats. Every recommendation you'll find in the book, Super Woman Rx, is designed to reduce inflammation so your unique potential will be set free. The list below includes the main inflammation-causing culprits.

Gluten

A protein found in wheat, gluten can trigger an immune reaction that damages the surface of the small intestine and can cause a variety of problems including interference with the absorption of nutrients, bloating, diarrhea, and sometimes constipation. People with sensitivity to gluten can experience anxiety, depression, mood swings, brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, migraine headaches, swelling or pain in joints. 

Top 15 Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Really Informative video from Dr. Axe about inflammatory foods to add to your diet. We really liked it and had to share. Let us know what you think?

Turmeric - Can It Help You Lose Weight?

First ginger, then matcha, now turmeric. The yellow spice often found in Indian food (and ginger’s cousin, FYI) has officially reached celebrity status, making its way into lattes in just about every trendy café and on Instagram (see: #turmericlatte or #goldenlatte). And the fad is only growing. Case in point: News broke recently that a woman supposedly died after receiving an intravenous turmeric injection, according to Forbes. Yes, an injection.

Why the sudden infatuation with an ancient root? For years, holistic health practitioners have heralded turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to its active ingredient, curcumin. Studies have shown that the compound inhibits a number of molecules that play a role in inflammation in the body, and other studies have shown that inflammation has been linked to metabolic diseases, like obesity.

6 ANTI - INLAMMATORY POWERHOUSE FOODS

Chronic inflammation has been associated with an increased risk of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and cancer. Sure, some inflammation is good—the acute kind is a form of self-protection, your body's immune response to a cut or pathogens entering the body. 

Chronic inflammation, however, means that your body is constantly producing immune cells, which can damage the body. This harmful inflammation is a result of never-ending stress, being overweight, or a diet high in things like sugar, trans fats, and various toxins. But while the wrong diet promotes excessive inflammation, a diet rich in clean foods can help reduce it and its harmful effects on your body. The following foods in particular are anti-inflammatory powerhouses.

Cold-Water Fish

Salmon, black cod, sardines, and anchovies are full of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is a particularly good choice—its rosy pink color comes from carotenoids, which also have anti-inflammatory properties. 

BEST SPICES FOR HEALTHY COOKING

Have you ever felt like your healthy food was lacking something? 

Sure, grilled chicken breast and vegetables are great for you, but it can also leave a lot lacking in the taste department. If you're finding that your food is sitting on the side of bland a little more than you'd like, then you need to find the best spices. But the best in spices is as relative as the best in gas mileage — everyone says their spices are the best. That's why we got the help of culinary nutritionist Keisha Luke.  

7 BEST FOODS TO FIGHT INFLAMMATION.

Whether it's aches and pains, stiffness, headaches, indigestion, stomach aches, yeast imbalances, viruses, low energy, weight gain, or free-radical damage, it often goes back to two things: acidity and inflammation.

To understand how acidity plays a role in producing bodily inflammation, you first have to understand pH, or the measure of a solution's acidity or alkalinity from 0 to 14, 0 being the most acidic, and 14 being the most alkaline. Our bodies need a very specific pH balance to function and maintain homeostasis. Even slight changes to the pH of our blood, for instance, can be extremely problematic.

10 INFLAMMATION FIGHTING FOODS.

When you have a headache or joint pain, the easy fix is to reach for an over-the counter anti-inflammatory. However, recent studies show an alarming trend. 

It turns out that even one dose of the most popular OTC and prescription anti-inflammatories is enough to significantly increase your risk of heart attack. When taken regularly or in large doses, those same drugs can also cause serious gastrointestinal damage.

8 Sick Remedies That Actually Work - Scientifically!

Good video that has some really handy sick remedies.

How To Make Anti-Inflammatory Juice

MANAGING PAIN WHILE AVOIDING OPIOD ABUSE

Rather than being considered a miracle pill that magically takes away pain, prescription opioids are increasingly being seen as a precursor to heroin addiction and the cause of potentially deadly overdoses themselves. However, select patients do still benefit from the use of opioids in the management of chronic pain. The trick, for any prescriber, is to identify those patients who are appropriate for opioid management and to provide that therapy safely.

The first step, says Christopher J. Burnett, MD, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Texas A&M College of Medicine and director of the Baylor Scott & White Health's Temple Pain Clinic, is to follow the guidelines the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released last year. "The CDC guidelines, which outline when to prescribe these drugs and provide guidance for how to do so safely, are a good starting point for providers caring for chronic pain patients," Burnett said.

7 Anti Inflammatory Foods You Should Increase In Your Diet.

Some kinds of inflammation in the body helps us heal, but chronic inflammation is the root of many modern day ailments and issues – among them, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, according to Dr. Andrew Weil. A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods is a simple and powerful way to help the body stay balanced, calm and in vibrant health.

We loved sharing this advice from The Beauty Chef a while back and thought we’d revisit the topic with this useful list of foods that will encourage great skin, daily detoxification and better overall health. Most anti-inflammatory foods are also rich in antioxidants – think leafy greens and bright berries. Many are also high fiber and and full of omega 3s. Find a few favorites and make them a bigger part of your daily diet…

Anti-Inflammatories - Ginger and Turmeric

Some useful tips. What do you think?

5 Gut Health Mistakes You May Be Making Unwittingly.

A healthy, balanced diet rich in probiotics and prebiotics is the key to developing a thriving, diverse gut colony. But you can't expect your happy and healthy microbiome to withstand the gut bombs many of us throw their way—sometimes every single day.

Here are some common enemies of your beneficial bacteria and how to protect your microbiome from harm.

9 Anti Inflammatory Herbs That Could Boost Prostrate Health

Considering the potential of herbs as both as a chemopreventive agent that can be used in men who have chosen active holistic surveillance and as part of an overall plan to prevent recurrence in men who have undergone treatment this is one of the best natural forms of prostate cancer prevention and treatment. 

Researchers at the University of Texas found that the following combination of herbs  inhibits invasion of cancer cells, reduces the ability of cancer to spread to bone cells, and boost apoptosis through anti-inflammatory effects on cells' genetic blueprints. 

Here is the combination to get you started:

The Anti Inflammatory Diet Guide.

THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET – YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE

Redness, swelling, itchiness, heat, pain… these are all signs of inflammation. Sure, having a sore throat or a bug bite is one type of inflammation. It’s when the inflammation is chronic (lasts for weeks or longer) that we get concerned. When your body stays in an inflammatory state, healthy cells can’t work as they are supposed to, potentially leading to disease.

The foods we eat can either increase inflammation or reduce inflammation – we have the power to prevent disease. How incredible is that? And if you do have a chronic condition, you may even be able to manage it better with the right eating plan.

Eight Foods That Fight Aches and Pains

You know that taking certain supplements can help to combat aches and pains caused by arthritis and other conditions, but did you know that some foods have painkilling and anti-inflammatory properties?
Here are eight foods you might want to put on your plate if you suffer from chronic pain...

Turmeric
A spice commonly used in Indian cooking, turmeric contains the chemical curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can help ease the pain of osteoarthritis and regulate the body's immune response, reducing the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.