Farewell Fatso!: Kale Chips

Farewell Fatso!: Kale Chips: Snacking can be good for you -- as long as your smart about it. Our bodies need to refuel every few hours. This week's recipe is from the Sn...

What Foods provide Vitamin B's?

Our body needs vitamin B complex, especially since the aging process decreases our ability to absorb nutrients. Vitamin B complex consists of thiamine B1, riboflavin B2, niacin B3, pantothenic acid B5, pyridoxine B6, biotin B7, folic acid or folate B9, and cobalamin B12, and in some countries pangamic acid B15 and amygdalin-nitrilosides or laetrile B17. 

Women who boost their intake of  B6, B9, and B12 can reduce their risk of heart attack by as much as 50%!

Thiamine or B1 is found in nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, beans, egg yolk, avocados, green leafy vegetables, cod, and scallops.

Riboflavin is found in natural sources of B2 which are found in almonds, scallops, pink salmon, spinach, dairy, mackerel, wheatgerm, eggs, and oats. 

*High concentration of B2 can reduce the effectiveness of the anti-cancer drug methotrexate.

Niacin, try it's natural source of B3 from large fish like tuna, salmon, swordfish, trout, and mackerel. 

*Niacin may reduce the toxic side effects on the heart tissue of the anti-cancer drug adriamycin without reducing its effectiveness in the treatment of cancer.

Pantothenic, B5 is found in avocados, chicken, mushrooms, trout, peanuts, wheat germ, wheat bran, lentils, pink salmon, and oysters.

Pyridoxine, Some foods that contain B6 are raw milk, wheat germ, wheat bran, bananas, chicken avocados, and tuna.

*Beware of processed foods, they destroy vitamin B6. 

Biotin is your B7and is found in spinach, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, potatoes, legumes, nuts, pork, organ meats, chicken, fish, egg yolks, milk, cheese, royal jelly, soy, corn, barley and wheat bran.

Folic Acid, foods with vitamin B9 are deep leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, lima beans, sprouts, wheatgerm, nuts, tuna, mushrooms, and dates. 
* Approximately 1/3 of pregnant women have a folate deficiencies, which can lead to birth defects.

Cobalamin, B12 can be found in meat, fish, free range eggs, yogurt, soybeans, seaweed, kelp, sunflower seeds, bananas, and pollen. 

*Vegans and vegetarians should ensure this supplement in their daily diet. Vegetarian foods containing B12 may not be absorbed.

Pangamic acid also known as B15. B15 is found in whole grain, brown rice, wheat germ, wheat grass, nut, seeds, and apricot kernels. 

*B12 is used by athletes in Europe to improve performance. Although sold as Dimetyl Glycine in the U.S., it is controversial due to lack of research. Avoid during pregnancy and while nursing due to lack of data.

Amygdalin-Nitrilosides also known as Laetrile; is B17. Find B17 in apricots, peaches, plums, apple seeds, almonds, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, sprouted seeds, alfalfa, mug beans, millet, lentils, garbanzo beans, wheat grass, and buckwheat. 

*Eat sparingly, controversy as to whether it is toxic or curative, because intestinal bacteria may activate the release of cyanide. Ask your doctor if you should avoid or reduce these food from your diet while pregnant or nursing; due to lack of research of toxicity levels.

*Discuss with your physician your nutritional health. This article is only informational and is not be used as diagnosis or to replace physician advice.

Resources:

www.webmed.com, American Cancer Association, Natural Standard, American College of Healthcare Sciences, www.drweil.com

If you loved this article and want more details on the benefits of Vitamin Bs, subscribe today and read the full article in the September/October 2012 Mindful Magazine issue.
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Farewell Fatso!: Recipe Wednesday: Kale Chips

Farewell Fatso!: Recipe Wednesday: Kale Chips: Snacking can be good for you -- as long as your smart about it. Our bodies need to refuel every few hours. This week's recipe is from the Sn...

Ancient Healing

Part I

Many ancient cultures have been know to pass down their healing rituals verbally from generation to generation. If there was written knowledge it had been destroyed by the process of nature or the destruction of man. Rarely has there been survival of the ancient secrets of time.  

Ayurveda is one of these ancient methods that has survived many wars and prejudices and natural disasters over thousands and thousands of years. Ayurveda is known as one of the oldest healing methods, if not the oldest know to modern man. Much of it's teachings are of holistic care. The word "Ayurveda" is a Sanskrit word meaning "Knowledge of Life". Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine that seeks to bring balance specific to each individual, instead of a generic fix. It is a practice of both curative and preventive measures, encouraging optimal physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It aims to prevent unnecessary suffering and encourages us to live a long, healthy lifestyle. Ayurveda ranges in healing philosophies from surgery to energy work and everything in between.

In fact there are eight branches of Ayurveda: 

1. Káyachikitsá ~ Internal Medicine: Focus is on the body, mind and soul connection as a whole. Psychosomatic theory recognizes that the mind can create illness in the body and vice versa.
2. Shálákya Tantra ~ Ears, Nose, and Throat: A study of approximately 72 eye diseases, surgical procedures for all eye disorders such as cataracts and eyelid diseases, and also diseases of the ears, nose, and throat. 
3. Vishagara–Vairodh ~ Tantra Toxicology: Pertains to air and water pollution, toxins in animals, minerals, vegetables, and epidemics, as well as study of their antidotes.
4. Kaumára Bhritya ~ Pediatrics: This branch of medicine focuses on prenatal and postnatal care of the baby and mother. Including the methods of conception, choosing the child’s gender, intelligence, constitution, childhood diseases, and midwifery.
5. Shalyá Tantra ~ Surgery: Yes, surgery has been in practice for thousands of years. It is not a recent practice although many old practices were lost or hidden. Allowing western medical philosophy to rebirth this practice. We are only touching the surface of what is in the ancient Ayurvedic practice.
6. Bhúta Vidyá ~ Psychiatry: This entire philosophy analyses the mind and it's diseases as well as the alterations with herbs, diet, yogic therapies of breathing and mantras, and even demonic possession.
7. Vájikarana ~ Aphrodisiacs: This is the branch of fertility, infertility, sexual energy, spiritual development and their common ground.
8. Rasáyana ~ Rejuvenation: The practice of prevention and longevity. In order to develop longevity, ethics and virtuous living must be embraced.

As you can see Ayurveda is a whole body, mind and soul practice. It is not a religion, although many times confused as such because of the connection with spirituality and medicine. 

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