No Matter What Happens: Fight

Myasthenia Gravis Awareness : Get in the Fight

IMPOSSIBLE is NOTHING: Fight Position. Step Forward

IMPOSSIBLE is NOTHING: Fight Position. Step Forward.

This week I got my USA Boxing fit-to-box doctors note! While a little note with a check mark sounds trivial to most, my MG com-padres and peeps in my corner know how much THIS means.

Little over four years ago, I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis (mg) a neuro-muscular illness that in short makes your muscles so weak you can't <insert any verbs here: walk, run, breathe, see , etc..> Yep, good times!

Since then I've been a Warrior of Health, a Crusader of Healing - on a live or die mission to get my body to work again. There's been doctors, tests, meds, nutrition, juice fasts, labs, exams, blood tests, follow ups, meltdowns, tears, fears, more doctors, more juice, more MRIs, CTs,  weird torturous tests,  hiding from people and too many moments of wondering if life would be normal again. Would I be able to take my kid to the park? Travel? drive? Play guitar, take a deep breath, run, sing?  How about chew or just swallow over-cooked pureed broccoli, not see double, not see in triplicate or simply be me again? --OK, honestly I wondered if I'd survive this.

Three years in, my rocker self had (literally and figuratively) gone pear-shaped and while Meds and nutrition were working well enough to function, the scales were tipping for the worse. I needed to do something or else resign that the slippery slope was going to win. The David Bowie in me told me " fake it til you make it" and fast! If I wanted to be healthy, I needed to fake/act healthy.  

As luck would have it and painfully down on luck, there was a boxing club across the street from my office. THIS was a no brainier! IMHO, the toughest motherfuckers are boxers! So on a hot day in June, I dared to walk across the street to Third Street Boxing Gym to see if I could just fake it through one class. Just one.  (crap, just realized I sound like Rocky - one punch, one step, one round. Apologies.)

I stepped inside the door and was greeted by Third Street owner, golden glove Paul Wade. "I know you want to be here" he said. He had no f-n idea. Humbly, pathetically, I made it through one class - barely. The next day, sore as F*#% I signed up for a year. 

I also believe in Neitzsche: "If it doesn't kill you...!"  I was all in!

For the next two to three months, I went. I showed up, desperately trying to keep up with the sit-ups, burpees and rounds of heavy bag. I teared up during class, often - praying it'd pass off as sweat. (So sad.) When I looked defeated a young fighter named Dino told me "It just takes practice. Keep going". The workout was hard. My body hated me. I felt like a lumbering jackass. My head screamed inside "you're six-kinds of messed-up, you're sick, you can't breathe, you fraud, you imbecile, why are you here, go the fuck home!"

Boxing folk are motivational wizards. In time Paul's mantras of "no excuses people", "everybody's got something", "do the hardest thing" started to crush everything else. Sweat became fueled by Ironman Ed's gregarious humor and motivation. Other gym-mate's fist pumps and steady confidence fed me. Third Street was a place of warriors, champs! Despite feeling like a mere shadow of the self I used to be, these crazy people made me feel like I belonged. 

Medically, i'm not supposed to be able to do this. Every time I throw a punch,  I'm supposed to be less able to throw the next one. I won't go as far as to say I don't feel the MG everyday - It's there! I feel it. But in a dark lonely moment when I wanted to run, when I wanted to stop - my (now) trainer, Adolfo, refused to see an ounce of weak in me. He simply said "fight position. Step forward."

So, today I got my "fit-to-box" paperwork. All I know is if I could do this, impossible is nothing!

Elimination Diet:

Been thinking, some specific and even "clean" foods are triggering symptoms--- a hunch is pointing to eggs, chocolate and ...oranges!

Starting an elimination diet!

• Four weeks of eating clean
• followed by introducing one item at a time
++++ eat one new food two times a day
++++ monitor for any symptoms for the next two days
++++ on the fourth day try a new food item and repeat process

Very excited about this process and the possibility of knowing!


NOTES:  Of all things, ORANGES are triggering me. Crazy! Frigging oranges! One of my favorite & staple treats--now kryptonite. Possibly one of the reasons juicing is magic for me because I don't do OJ on a fast.

Juicing 101

The down and dirty - what you need to know to start juicing! It's easy. It's just juice. Juice on!
 

My quick intro to juicing: JUICING 101! 

 

 
• Once you have a juicer (Breville, JackLalanne, etc..), you can use pretty much juice any fruit and vegetable that you can eat raw.

• The bulk of your juice should be cucumber & celery.

• Then add dark leafy greens (kale, dandelion, spinach), roots (carrot, beets, jicama) & tart fruit (green apple, lemon, lime, pear) to give variety of minerals, vitamins sweetness & taste.

• Be sure to incorporate a full spectrum of colors. Your cocktails should be a painter's palette of vibrant rich colors: yellow, greens and reds, pale to muddy goodness.

 
 
Things to know: Adding juice to your routine is the best way to start. You will easily notice your body crave more vibrant vitamin rich foods while simultaneously avoiding "junk".

Vegetables (especially dark leafy greens) will keep your blood sugar or glycemic levels steady and constant. This is helpful if you are prone to headaches or fatigue caused by fruit sugars.

Once your hooked on juice, try a one to three day fast. You can work up to longer fasting practice in time.

When adding juice to your normal diet, try incorporating one or two glasses per day. (About 16-20oz total).

When fasting or as i say "juice feasting" aim to drink 96 to 120 ounces per day. This will ensure your body gets an ample variety of vitamins and minerals. This will also decrease the urge to binge eat when transitioning back to solid food because you have been "feasting" all along.

Please read my section on juice fasting when preparing for a "juice feast"! There are lots of great tips for longer feasting.

Three of my favs:
cucumber, pineapple, ginger
beat, carrot, apple, ginger
kale, celery, pear, cucumber

To your health,
-sina

Great-full and Thankful!!

(Original post: 11/25/2013)
Hi friends, today is my first vacation day since July4th. MG slaughtered my last 3 week long vacations (thanksgiving, Christmas,New years & July4th).

As thanksgiving approaches, I'm freaked that some horrible MG attack will come and f me up despite that I feel pretty darn good!

2013 has been one weird year!----MG diagnosis, scary doc appts, MRIs, CAT scans, blood tests, disability leave Dec-April, 3month stints of double vision & weakness, month long colds, prednisone, mestinon, cellcept---and THEN nutribullet-ing, MG fb groups, acupuncture, 32 days of juice, colonics, going Paleo AIP, kicking coffee & the infinite quest for good health!

Well it's thanksgiving week, I am grateful and full of greatness! I am thankful for many joys and prosperity in my life. I am thankful that my MG is under control. I am thankful that I'm working, rocking and getting to enjoy being a mom. I'm thankful (yet terrified) to continue to taper off the prednisone (I'm at my last breakthrough level (but holding strong).

Grateful for today as my Mom reminds me of the saying "yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, that's why they call today the present"!

Holi-daze!

Just came home from a celebratory end of the year dinner (fun but unhealthy food & drink). Also-- been (stress) eating since turkey day (cheese, hot chocolates, wine, pizza, even some gluteny cookies).

It's official: I feel like crud! Gained 10lbs. And my eyes are twitching and weak. Booze makes it worse.

Gunna get back in the juice train tomorrow!

Good Eats: Pink Himalayan - Minerals

Minerals in Himalayan Pink Salt - Spectral Analysis

Below is a spectral analysis of Himalyan pink salt as it is typically found. The list shows all the trace minerals, electrolytes, and elements contained in Himalayan salt. Himalayan salt is a rock salt popular among health food advocates who seek it for the nutritional value of its fairly abundant trace minerals.

 

Juice on!!

My last 32 day juice fast was great. I saw so many improved health benefits juicing (including regaining my vision). Been raw paleo since (some chicken & fish). And now reducing my meds!

Starting a preventative/ maintenance today for 21 days. Woot!!

Here is my previous "before and after" from the last fast. I still look and feel like the after! With complete full strength.

Lets see what goodness these next days will bring! Cheers to the power of juice!!

BAD EATS: MSG (& other alias)

BAD EATS: MSG

Names of ingredients that contain processed free glutamic acid (aka MSG):

Glutamic acid (E 620)2
Glutamate (E 620)
Monosodium glutamate (E 621)
Monopotassium glutamate (E 622)
Calcium glutamate (E 623)
Monoammonium glutamate (E 624)
Magnesium glutamate (E 625)
Natrium glutamate
Anything “hydrolyzed”
Any “hydrolyzed protein”
Calcium caseinate, Sodium caseinate
Yeast extract, Torula yeast
Yeast food, Yeast nutrient
Autolyzed yeast
Gelatin
Textured protein
Whey protein
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein isolate
Soy protein
Soy protein concentrate
Soy protein isolate
Anything “protein”
Anything “protein fortified”
Soy sauce
Soy sauce extract
Protease
Anything “enzyme modified”
Anything containing “enzymes”
Anything “fermented”
Vetsin
Ajinomoto
Umami

Ingredients that often contain or produce processed free glutamic acid during processing:

Carrageenan (E 407)
Bouillon and broth
Stock
Any “flavors” or “flavoring”
Maltodextrin
Citric acid, Citrate (E 330)
Anything “ultra-pasteurized”
Barley malt
Pectin (E 440)
Malt extract
Seasonings

Ingredients suspected of containing or creating sufficient processed free glutamic acid to serve as MSG-reaction triggers in HIGHLY SENSITIVE people:

Corn starch
Corn syrup
Modified food starch
Lipolyzed butter fat
Dextrose
Rice syrup
Brown rice syrup
Milk powder
Reduced fat milk (skim; 1%; 2%)
most things “low fat” or “no fat”
anything “enriched”
anything “vitamin enriched”
anything “pasteurized”
Annatto
Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
certain amino acid chelates (Citrate, aspartate, and glutamate are used as chelating agents with mineral supplements.)

GOOD EATS: AutoImmune Protocol and Spices

I am currently a 90% raw VEGAN, paleo (no dairy, no grains, no legumes). I'm allergic to nuts. Refined processed salt is my nemesis and I have reactions to shellfish, though  look forward to eating fish in the future.

With all the Paleo AIP restrictions (no seeds, no booze, no night shades, no egg) making my interesting, tasty meals seams to be quite the trick. But it is possible. And you're probably saying? What can you eat?

 

What helped me was finding a good list  ....and ThePaleoMom.com has did it again... a beautiful summary list. I've pirated hers and added a few thing to it. So, go ahead and spice up your life (or NOT!)

Starting with the GOOD stuff:

 

Safe Spices (Leaves, Flowers, Roots, Barks)

• Balm (lemon balm)            Leaf of Melissa officinalis L.
• Basil Leaves (Sweet)         Leaf of Ocimum basilicum
• Bay Leaves (Laurel Leaves)   Leaf of Laurus nobilis
• Chamomile                       Flower of Anthemisnobilis L. or Matricaria chamomilla L.
• Chervil                               Leaf of Anthriscus cerefolium
• Chives                                Leaf of Allium schoenoprasum
• Cilantro (Coriander Leaf)    Leaf of Coriandrum sativum
• Cinnamon/Cassia               Bark of Cinnamomum spp.
• Cloves                                Bud of Syzygium aromaticum
• Dill Weed                          Leaf of Anethum graveolens/Anethum sowa
• Garlic                                 Bulb of Allium sativum
• Ginger                               Root of Zingiber officinale
• Horseradish                    Root of Armoracialapathfolia Gilib. *(Read ingredients list for horseradish sauce!)
• Lavender                         Flower of Lavandula officinalis Chaix.
• Mace                               Aril of Myristica fragrans
• Marjoram Leaves            Leaf of Majorana hortensis Moench
• Onion Powder                 Bulb of Allium cepa
• Oregano Leaves              Leaf of Origanum vulgare/Lippia spp.
• Parsley                            Leaf of Petroselinum crispum
• Peppermint                     Leaf of Mentha piperita
• Rosemary                       Leaf of Rosmarinusofficinalis
• Saffron                            Stigma of Crocus sativus
• Sage                                Leaf of Salvia officinalis/Salvia triloba
• Salt                                 Mineral  (PINK HIMALAYAN or CELTIC)
• Savory Leaves                Leaf of Satureia montana/Satureia hortensis
• Spearmint                      Leaf of Menthaspicata
• Tarragon                        Leaf of Artemisia dracunculus
• Thyme                            Leaf of Thymus vulgaris/Thymus serpyllum/Thymus satureioides
• Turmeric                        Root of Curcuma longa

 

AND NOW a list of BUMMERs that you should avoid: 

 

Be Cautious (Berries and Fruit)

• Allspice                           Berry of Pimenta officinalis
• Star Anise                       Fruit of Illicium verum Hook
• Caraway                          Fruit or Carum carvi Maton.
• Cardamom                      Fruit of Elettariacardamomum
• Juniper                            Berry of Juniperus communis
• Black Pepper                  Berry of Piper nigrum
• White Pepper                 Berry of Piper nigrum
• Green Peppercorns         Berry of Piper nigrum
• Pink Peppercorns           Berry of Schinus terebinthifolius
• Vanilla Bean                  Fruit of Vanilla planifolia/Vanilla tahitensisMoore

Avoid (Seeds)

• Anise Seed                     Seedof Pimpinella anisum
• Annatto Seed                 Seed of Bixa orellana
• Black Caraway (Russian Caraway, Black Cumin)    Seed of Nigella sativa
• Celery Seed                   Seedof Apium graveolens
• Coriander Seed              Seed ofCoriandrum sativum
• Cumin Seed                   Seed of Cuminum cyminum
• Dill Seed                         Seed of Anethum graveolens/Anethum sowa
• Fennel Seed                  Seedof Foeniculum vulgare
• Fenugreek                     Seed of Trigonellafoenum-graecum
• Mustard Seed                Seed of Brassica juncea/B. hirta/B. nigra
• Nutmeg                          Seed of Myristica fragrans
• Poppy Seed                   Seedof Papaver somniferum
• Sesame Seed                 Seed of Sesamum indicum

Avoid (Nightshades)

• Capsicums                    Seed of Capsicum spp.
• Cayenne                       Fruit of Capsicum annuum
• Chili Pepper Flakes      Many Varieties, fruit of Capsicum genus
• Chili Powder                Blend of fruit of Capsicum genus
• Curry                             A spice mixture typically of coriander, cumin, fenugreek, red pepper.
• Paprika                          Fruit of Capsicum spp.
• Red Pepper                   Fruit of Capsicum

Some Common Spice Blends–In general, avoid spice blends--often the ingredients list doesn’t tell you everything that’s in it. Common spice blends you might have in your kitchen with components to worry about:

• Curry Powder             A spice mixture typically containing coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and red pepper.
• Chinese 5-Spice         Contains Star Anise, Peppercorns, and Fennel Seed
• Garam Masala            Contains peppercorns, cumin seeds and cardamom pods
• Poultry Seasoning    Often contains pepper, nutmeg
• Steak Seasoning         Usually contains pepper, chili, cumin, and cayenne
• REFINED SALT       It's more evil than you think

GOOD EATS: Cuckoo for COCONUTS

I love fresh young coconuts! (That sounds funny! Ha. Lol) They add a lil fun to a fast when my friends are drinking wine.

Nutritionally: coconut water is loaded with B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine and folates. It is packed with amino acids, enzymes, dietary fiber, vitamin C and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and manganese. It is also has anti viral and anti bacterial properties.

The cytokinins in coconut water has anti aging-effects and is great for skin in general.

Coconut water is also a natural diuretic. Urologists recommend kidney stone sufferers drink coconut water every other day to reduce the size of stones.

Basically it's a mega superfood! Enjoy!

JUICE FAST: Compost Lattes 101

My friend Eric dubbed them "Compost Latte". It stuck in our household ...and since anything superhero is cool, we also call them "Hulk Blood". (Yes, I have a 3.5 year old.)

Dr. Robert Young, ph Miracle, says:
•  Just Fast = 64oz juice, + half your weight in ounces of filtered water
•  Juice Feast = 1 gallon juice (128oz), + half your weight in ounces of filtered water.
Juice Feasting: Supposedly post-fast you have had enough nutrients that you won't feel the urge to pig out. Obviously, daily amounts will vary. Some days you  need more. Others, you are good with less.

Personally I'm not picky on taste combinations or recipe following. I simply switch it up to be sure I have a wide range of nutrients. It's all salad in a glass-yum! The bulk of the juice base should be cucumber and celery. Then add other veg and fruits to get a variety of minerals, vitamins, etc.. Here is a list of the top blood cleaners:

• Celery (bulk)
• Cucumber (bulk)
• Beets
• Parsley (lots!)
• Kale/Dandelion/spinach
• Lemon (peel optional)
• Granny smith apple
• Pear
• Ginger
• Radish (gnarly tasting but great liver cleanser)
• Cabbage. It's sweeter than you'd think but it smells. Solo, it's ok.
• Carrot, not really a blood cleaner but good for taste.

EXTRAS: 

SPIRULINA - a protein dense, blue-green algae. A super food with tons of B12. Great for alkalizing.

SALTWATER"Soley"
A teaspoon of pink Himalayan salt in water a day. It pushes acid out of the cells, alkalizes, and has 84 minerals.

WHEATGRASS
Grab a shot while you are at the Whole Foods. For me, that's every few days while out shopping for produce.

DETOX TEA
• Traditional Medicinal's Smooth Move

TASTY TREATS - spice it up:
• mono-fruit drink (watermelon or cantaloupe )
• fresh young coconut water
• carrot, ginger
• pineapple, cucumber, ginger
• agua fresca
• good ol' lemon in water

If you must follow a recipe, here is Joe Cross' blend for "Mean Green"

"Mean Green"

Prep Time: 5 minutes - Total Time: 10 minutes - Yield: 1-2

Serving Size: 16oz. (500 mls)

Ingredients

1 cucumber

4 celery stalks

2 apples

6-8 leaves kale (Australian tuscan cabbage)

1/2 lemon

1 tbsp ginger

Directions

Wash all produce well. Peel the lemon, optional. Juice. Pour over ice. 

Enjoy!

Juice Feast Day 13: Eat to Live, Don't Live to Eat

Sunday Afternoon - Juice Feast Day 13

Fresh coconuts and somersaults while Watching "Forks Over Knives". Awesome wellness film.
Looking forward to reading "The China Study".
Eat to live, don't live to eat!

***

DETOX: Alkalize your body with Himalayan Salt

 This morning, I received a care package from my amazing cousin, Regina (aka "Reggie" as Dregen calls her), which is funny because I literally asked her if she uses Himalayan YESTERDAY.

My friend, Raquel told me to add Pink Himalayan to my diet. it contains 84 minerals (Celtic Salt has 72) that regular sea salt does not. (I am deficient in many minerals-lithium, selenium, potassium in particular).

My friend, Anka told me to make seawater sole. It helps Alkalize your body by pushing the acids out of your cells.

About Himalayan Salt
http://products.mercola.com/himalayan-salt/



Seawater Sole from Sea Salt
Basic requirement:
1 or more teaspoons per day.

Disadvantages:
• Some are sensitive to the high quantities of sodium.

Advantages:
• Less than 1 cent in cost per day.
• Comprehensive mineral blend high in amorphous silica.
• Highest concentration of electrolytes per teaspoon.
• Chelation power.

To learn How to Make Himalayan Salt Soley watch this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUmepo4mtjI

Just like air, and water, without salt we can not live. But just like fresh air and clean water, with salt you need the good stuff.

JUICE FAST: heal thy belly

Here we go--Juice fast!
Let thy belly heal! I've always enjoyed a healthful week of juice, going as long as 14days before. But now I'm angry, pissed and on a mission to heal my self. Inspired by Kris Carr and Joe Cross, I'm ready to join the long distance club. Not sure how long I'll go this tome, but I'd like to mark three weeks and see how I feel.







Day 1: Bit hungry, rumble tummy, headache at night. 10 weeks of double vision.
Day 2: Migraine till noon, bit hungry but ok
Day 3: Headache in AM, not hungry, right eye drifting up a bit.
Day 4: CT scan (so AM fast). I feel good. Initial juice fast headaches and food cravings are all gone. I'm in --with great energy.
After my CT today, I saw my GP, who checked my blood sugar levels. All great!
Been cleared by my neuro and GP to do an extended juice fast.
Will this reboot me? Dunno, but after eating super clean for one week and juice fast for 4 days, I've lost 7lbs of the 20 I gain from taking prednisone.
A step in the right direction.
As for my double vision---still double (10weeks and counting). Possibly a little worse today.
Day 5: Right eye starting to drift. Going to acupunture.
Day 6: Feel great physically, vision still doubled. Right eye drifting madly. Watermelon juice is so yum. It almost made me forget how angry & pissed off I am at my eyes. But then I tried to see something.
Day 8! Still double vision, but no droopy eye. Less frozen face. 13lbs bye-bye.
Day 9: ....meatballs at one of my events smelled good.
Day 10: The chefs presented new Eritrean & Indian menu items for events. I ate with my eyes and nose. The curry and stews looked colorful and smelled d-lish. No desire to undo the healing I've done.
Day 11: Had neuro follow up. My ct scan results are lost, I did face-off with the scale that told the beastly takes of gained prednisone pounds. I'm officially down 13pounds. Right eye still feels like I'm looking in a double mirror or through a marble, but this is an improvement.
Day 12: As an experiment, took 120mg mestinon at 5am. woke at 8am. eyes are very week, like legs would feel after running 1000 stairs, almost wobbly, (if eyes could wobble), my near-sight is 90% focused. I can count my toes. Far-sight is blurry, but more like I need major glasses.
Will see how I feel after mestinon wears off around noon.
(Somehow blogspot lost my log from day 12-30. Day 17 & 23 were the hardest. Day 17 everything smelled like ranch dressing. Everybody's lunch, the cafe near work, my assistant. My friend Raquel pointed out I must be craving salt, so I started up drink pink Himalayan sea salt "Soley". Worked like a charm.)
Day 31:
Feeling great!
Day 32:
Raspberries and juice for breakfast. Avocado and zucchini for lunch. My eyes are near perfect, little tired after a long day of computer-ing. I will continue to juice, but this juice Feasting/Fast is done!

Health Update:
I feel and look like me again.
25 prednisone pounds gone.
My vision is near perfect.
Bloodwork good.
CT scan shows that extra cells in thymus are gone.
MRI shows brain is stable, tiny spot of inflammation is gone.

Clean Eats: "The Notorious List" to buy Organic!

The Environmental Working Group creates an annual list, aptly named The Dirty Dozen, which helps consumers decide which produce they would most benefit from purchasing organic. The latest list to make the notorious list includes:

The Notorious List:
Apples
Celery
Bell Peppers
Peaches
Strawberries
Nectarines (imported)
Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Blueberries (domestic)
Potatoes
Green Beans
Kale/Greens

Based on the data collection, the Environmental Working Group also compiles a list of what they call the Clean 15. Produce with the least amount of pesticides is included on this list: Onions, Sweet Corn, Pineapple, Avocado, Cabbage, Sweet peas, Asparagus, Mangoes, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Sweet potatoes, Grapefruit, Watermelon, and Mushrooms.

Detox: CTscan RADIATION

Prepping for a follow up CT scan this Friday to check my thymus for any tumors which could be responsible for the Myasthenia Gravis. CT scans take pictures using radiation. Here are a few steps before and after to keep the nasties to a minimum. I will also be getting acupuncture.

FOODS THAT CAN HELP DETOX RADIATION OUT OF YOUR BODY
http://eatrightforyourlife.org/2012/05/19/foods-that-can-help-detox-radiation-out-of-your-body/

Science for Zombie: Maybe Zombies need Lecithin (aka Brain & Nerve food)

"BRAINS! BRAINS!" Maybe Zombies (or anyone suffering from brain fog) need Lecithin.

Lecithin is a naturally occurring compound found in all cells in nature, plant and animal. It plays a major role in almost all biological processes - including nerve transmission, breathing and energy production.

The word Lecithin is taken from the Greek Lekithos, which means "egg yolk". A fitting name for this essential nutrient, for the egg is considered a symbol of life, strength and fertility. Lecithin is important for all of these biological functions and more.

Our brain is approximately 30% Lecithin, 66% of liver fat is made of lecithin. In addition, it is an essential constituent of every human cell. The insulating myelin sheaths that protect the brain, spine and thousands of miles of nerves in your body are almost two-thirds Lecithin. Even the heart has a high concentration of Lecithin.

Lecithin is composed of many different components, including Choline, Inositol, Linoleic Acid, Phosphatidylserine, beneficial fatty acids and triglycerides. These valuable constituents of Lecithin are vital for the proper functioning of many metabolic processes.

+++ HOW DOES LECITHIN WORK IN THE BODY? +++

May 26, 2011 | By Gord Kerr LIVESTRONG.com

Lecithin, or phosphatidylcholine, accounts for almost 50 percent of specialized fat molecules, called phospholipids present in animals and plants, and forms a major component of mucus layers and cellular membranes. The choline in lecithin is an essential nutrient responsible for the vital biological functions lecithin provides. The production of acetylcholine, facilitated by lecithin, assists the nervous system, Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute notes.

FUNCTION
The liver synthesizes lecithin from food and disperses it throughout the body's circulatory system to protect cells from destruction by oxidation, and to help strengthen cellular structures. As a phospholipid, lecithin is a complex mixture of glycolipids, sterols, triglycerides, carbohydrates and fatty acids.The main component of lecithin, choline, aids in digestion of fats, keeps cell membranes semi-permeable, facilitates cell communication and regulates the movement of fats, ions, wastes and nutrients in cells. Lecithin also aids the nervous system in the production of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter important for memory, learning and sleep.

NUTRIENTS
Lecithin is derived from foods, such as egg yolk, fish, liver, yeast, wheat germ and peanuts, but its main sources are vegetables such as sunflowers, grape seeds and soybeans, the most common form used in supplements for soy lecithin oil and granules. One tablespoon of soybean lecithin oil contains 47.6 mg of choline, in addition to 25 micrograms of vitamin K and 1.1 mg of vitamin E. This amount of lecithin has 104 calories and 13.6 g of total fats, which breaks down into 2 g of saturated fatty acids, 1.5 g of monounsaturated fats and more than 6 g of polyunsaturated fats, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database.

CHOLESTEROL
Because choline in lecithin helps emulsify and remove fats from the liver, it may reduce the formation of deposits on artery walls or in the gall bladder and thus help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. A 10-week study in 2003 found that fat-free soy lecithin lowered cholesterol absorption by as much as 38 percent and reduced LDL, the bad form of cholesterol, by 14 percent among the 45 participants. The conclusion, published in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association," was that powdered lecithin lowers LDL cholesterol and cholesterol absorption when consumed with fat-free foods.

MEMORY
The choline in lecithin plays a role in brain and nerve function by advancing acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter involved in memory and muscle control, which protects the body from nervous system disorders. A study at the Institute of Public Health in Cambridge, England, found that patients with dementia and cognitive impairment had a diminished ability to convert choline into acetylcholine within the brain. Patients suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and people with subjective memory problems were assessed and lecithin was shown to have a dramatic positive result in subjects with subjective memory problems, researchers reported in the online Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews in 2003. They did not, however, conclude that lecithin was a viable treatment for patients with dementia.

CONSIDERATIONS
Although there is no recommended dietary allowance for lecithin, 2 tbsp. of lecithin granules sprinkled on yogurt, soups, cereals or other foods may have health benefits, according to the Vitamin Stuff website. You should get your doctor's approval before using lecithin or any other kind of supplement. High intakes of lecithin or choline could produce acute gastrointestinal reactions, salivation, sweating and anorexia. Prolonged and repeated intake of lecithin may be associated with the development of depression or an over-response of dopamine receptors.

Good Eats: Blood Cleansing Foods

Some of the best Blood Cleansing Whole Foods!

• Aloe - the gelatin absorbs toxins
• Apples - the pectin removes heavy metals
• Avocado - antifungal
• Beets
• Blueberry
• Celery & celery seed
• Cranberry
• Cabbage
• Dandelion Greens
• Flax
• Garlic
• Grapefruit (awesome, but interacts with over 80 medications!)
• Kale
• Lemon - balances Ph
• Seaweed - the gelatin absorbs toxins
• Watercress
• Wheatgrass - oxyginates your blood

Herbs

• Basil - antifungal
• Cilantro - removes heavy metals mercury
• Parsley - removes mercury
• Oregano - antifungal

Top 15 Cleansing Foods:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-15-cleansing-foods.html?page=1

Blood Purification:
http://www.squidoo.com/purifyblood_removetoxins