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Alzheimer’s Disease May Be Linked to ‘Negative Energy,’ but 1 Practice Can Help

Alzheimer’s Disease May Be Linked to ‘Negative Energy,’ but 1 Practice Can Help

Reported by: The Epoch Times/ Epoch Health / Stephanie Zhang, Ph.D./ Yuhong Dong, M.D., P

Summary of Key Facts

  • Alzheimer’s disease has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The COVID-19 pandemic involves negative emotions with negative energy
  • The brain is an energy organ, and meditators boost the brain’s energy
  • Meditation helps control negative emotions associated with negative energy
  • Meditation can prevent Alzheimer’s Disease during the COVID-19 pandemic

Alzheimer’s disease has emerged as a critical comorbidity of COVID-19. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection and are prone to severe clinical outcomes.

On the other hand, people with COVID-19 were at significantly increased risk for a new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, especially those aged 65 and older. The risk could increase by 69 percent within one year after an initial COVID-19 diagnosis and by 89 percent in people aged more than 85 years old and in women.

What Led to Alzheimer’s Disease Worsening During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Research of complete autopsies on patients who died from COVID-19 found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be detected in the human brain from the time of the acute attack to more than seven months following symptom onset. In addition, the virus could be widely distributed and predominantly present in multiple respiratory and non-respiratory tissues, including the brain, of patients who died from severe COVID-19.



As a result, the intrusive virus-induced proinflammatory molecules that could cause Alzheimer’s disease are related to higher levels of beta-amyloid, inflammation, oxidative stress, and various neurologic symptoms, including cognitive impairment.

Chronic inflammation is one of the leading underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease. The process involves energy mobilization and expenditure. Cognitive impairment and the formation of pathologic biomarkers, such as beta-amyloid and Tau proteins, also contribute to energy surplus and deficiency in the body to coordinate energy metabolism and seek energy balance.

While negative metabolic energy is involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, what about negative emotional energy?

A Pandemic with Negative Emotions and Negative Energy

Now it is not difficult to understand why our brain is vulnerable to negative thinking, which is associated with negative energy levels, as an energy organ.

The COVID-19 pandemic evoked negative emotions.

A recently published Nature article reviewed more than 35,000 papers on mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors found a 28 percent increase in major depression and a 26 percent increase in anxiety were the most prominent responses, followed by loneliness and fear of COVID-19.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic induces emotions of major depression, anxiety, loneliness, and fear. (Nature Medicine 2022)

A review paper did a meta-analysis of 34 published articles and concluded that depression and anxiety were associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and persistent negative thinking was responsible for cognitive decline and neuropathological markers deposition in the brain.

In addition, persistent loneliness in mid-life is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, which indicates that negative thinking associated with negative energy worsens Alzheimer’s disease.

Therefore, it is critical to reduce negative energy during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for those with long-lasting negative energy that has already manifested into existing Alzheimer’s disease.

The Brain Is an Organ With a Recordable Energy Field

What we usually understand about energy pertains to biochemical energy, measured by calories or energy-generating substances such as ATP molecules.

However, there are other forms of bioenergy.

Since the 19th century, scientists have recognized that the brain generates an electromagnetic field arising from the discharging activity of nerve cells in the brain. When taken as a whole, that electrical activity forms an electromagnetic field in the brain.

Instruments can detect the brain’s electromagnetic field. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) measure brain activity and provide evidence of brain energy.

Scientists have even calculated that a normal brain could produce 10 watts of electricity. If all 10 billion interconnected nerve cells were to discharge simultaneously, the energy would be robust enough to power a flashlight.

Brainwaves are associated with a person’s conscious activity. By frequency magnitude standards, brainwaves broadly fall into five categories.

 

Five types of brainwaves. (The Epoch Times)

Senior Meditators with Positive Personalities Present High Brain Energy

A study from Jefferson University found that regular meditation sessions advance the frequency of gamma waves and the number of occurrences of such waves.

 

Gamma brainwave amplitude EET activity in meditators. (The Epoch Times)

Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, found that after observing gamma wave activity in senior-level meditators’ brains, waves showed consistently powerful gamma wave patterns, which proved to be a persistent trait, regardless of what they were doing at the time.

In other words, those strong gamma waves represent not just the state of one’s brain while in meditation but a  day-to-day regular state. Sitting meditation had already changed the status of the meditators’ brain energy.

Researchers were stunned by this phenomenon. Moreover, they noted the meditators’ open-mindedness, tolerance, and peacefulness.



Emotion Has Energy

Our thoughts and emotions have energy. American psychiatrist David R. Hawkins has illustrated a pyramid graph showing that people with different emotions or thoughts exhibit different energy levels.

 

The scale consists of a series of levels of consciousness, with the higher energy levels being associated with greater positivity, consciousness, and awareness. (The Epoch Times)

Positive emotions are associated with positive energy, and negative emotions are linked with negative energy.

The more capable a person is in controlling his emotion, the healthier he will be.

Meditation Can Help Us Control Emotions

Meditation has been scientifically proven to help enhance emotional control and suppress negative emotions, including anxiety and insomnia.

Scholars from the University of Minnesota and the University of Toronto in Canada have studied the effects of meditation on people’s ability to control their emotions.

After seven weeks of intervention with meditation with positive thoughts, meditation with relaxation, and non-meditation control, researchers found that people who meditated with positive thoughts were more able to control their emotions than those in the other two groups.

 

Meditators with positive thoughts see pleasant pictures more often. (The Epoch Times)

Meditation Can Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Research has also shown that meditation might have protective effects on the brain, reversing the aging of brain structures, restoring a person’s reaction speed, and improving attentional performance. These findings can be interpreted as meditation boosting the brain’s energy.

Sitting meditation can boost gray matter volume in the brain. (The Epoch Times)

Conclusion

During the post-COVID-19 era, the long-term sequelae of long COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease will combine to make matters worse for many people. AD is interconnected with COVID-19 at physical, mental, and energetic levels. A traditional yet modern exercise, sitting meditation, may promise to ease these two burdens.

 

 

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Coffee Good for Diabetes and Its Common Complications: Current Studies

 



Cold-Water Fish Improves Cognitive Function, Helps Build a Healthy Brain

 

Coffee Good for Diabetes and Its Common Complications: Current Studies

Coffee Good for Diabetes and Its Common Complications: Current Studies

Reported by: Epoch Health / George Citroner

 

About one in 10 Americans are living with diabetes, and between 90 and 95 percent of them have Type 2 diabetes. Compelling evidence suggests that increasing your coffee intake could lower your risk for this condition.

Coffee May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

A large study from Harvard University looked at the coffee habits of over 100,000 people for about 20 years.

Researchers found that people who increased their coffee intake by one cup more per day experienced an 11 percent lower risk of eventually getting Type 2 diabetes.

People who reduced their coffee intake by one cup per day, on the other hand, saw their risk of developing diabetes increase by 17 percent.

“These changes in risk were observed for caffeinated, but not decaffeinated coffee, and were independent of initial coffee consumption and four-year changes [during the study period] in other dietary and lifestyle factors,” the study authors specified.

Research published in 2012 found that moderate coffee consumption (three to five cups per day), was associated with a 25 percent reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.

These findings build on research from 2009 that found an association between increased coffee drinking and reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies find that drinking coffee can help our bodies to burn more fat, which addresses a big risk factor for Type 2 diabetes: being overweight.

“In our analysis of 94 studies with 105 independent groups (984 participants), CAF [caffeine] ingestion significantly increased fat metabolism,” the study authors concluded.

“This is likely due to the presence of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds in coffee,” Dr. Michael Green, an OB/GYN at Winona, a female-founded antiaging wellness center, and OB hospitalist and site director for OBHG at Northridge Medical Center in Northridge, California.

Reduces Risk of Common Diabetes Complications

Compared with the general, healthy female population, women who have experienced gestational diabetes may have a 10-fold increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Drinking coffee may lower this risk, according to scientists at the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health at the National University of Singapore.

For 24 years, the scientists’ recent study looked at over 4,500 women, mostly white, with a history of gestational diabetes, to compare long-time coffee consumption with risk.

Type 2 diabetes can increase our risk of eye problems, and cardiovascular and kidney disease.

A meta-analysis found that the more coffee that participants with Type 2 diabetes reported drinking, the lower their risk of experiencing mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. Researchers did emphasize, however, that more research is needed regarding the type of coffee, whether sugar and cream were added, and participants’ history of cardiovascular disease, to present more confident results.

Researchers investigated the relationship between coffee consumption and the decline in kidney function in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

They looked at 3,805 patients with an average age of 64 years (2,112 men, 1,693 women) with Type 2 diabetes and found higher coffee consumption reduced the risk of declining kidney function. Compared with no coffee consumption, those drinking two or more cups per day saw greater risk reduction.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition affecting blood vessels in the back of the eye. It can cause vision loss and blindness in people living with diabetes. A recently published scientific report evaluated the association between diabetic retinopathy prevalence and coffee consumption within a Korean population.

Researchers analyzed data from 1,350 participants with Type 2 diabetes who underwent diabetic retinopathy examination to find that those who drank two or more cups of coffee per day had lower odds of developing the condition, compared to those who didn’t drink any coffee.

“Coffee has [also] been shown to improve cognitive function and boost alertness, which can benefit people with type 2 diabetes who may experience fatigue and lack energy,” said Green.

Coffee Reduces Risk of Liver Disease in People with Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can significantly increase the risk of liver disease, particularly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Often, NAFLD is a “silent” condition, with few or no symptoms. Composed of different disorders of the liver caused by the accumulation of fat, it can cause liver scarring and cancer.

A new study finds coffee could reduce the severity of NAFLD in people who have Type 2 diabetes and are overweight.

Researchers surveyed 156 overweight, middle-aged participants, of which 98 had Type 2 diabetes, about how much coffee they drank. They also collected daily urine samples that were used to measure caffeine and noncaffeine metabolites, which are natural products resulting from the digestion of coffee.

Findings show that those with higher coffee caffeine consumption, as indicated by urine samples, were much less likely to experience liver disease.

The researchers concluded that caffeine and plant-based micronutrients called polyphenols, found in coffee, may contribute to reducing the severity of NAFLD.

Drink Moderately

Of course, too much of anything, even something otherwise healthy, can cause problems. Coffee is no different. The FDA cautions that for healthy adults, about 400 milligrams a day—or four or five cups of coffee, is an amount not “generally associated” with dangerous, negative effects.

“For the most part, as long as you consume coffee moderately, there are no major health concerns,” said Dr. Sreenivas Gudimetla, a cardiologist at Texas Health Fort Worth and Texas Health Physicians Group, told The Epoch Times.

 

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Cold-Water Fish Improves Cognitive Function, Helps Build a Healthy Brain



Are You Familiar With These 20 Herbs That Can Be Used As Medicine?

 

Cold-Water Fish Improves Cognitive Function, Helps Build a Healthy Brain

Cold-Water Fish Improves Cognitive Function, Helps Build a Healthy Brain

Reported by: The Epoch Times / Chris Chen

(Oleksandra Naumenko/Shutterstock)

 

New evidence suggests that eating cold-water fish and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids is effective in protecting brain health and enhancing cognitive performance in midlife.

Cold-Water Fish Are Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The American Heart Association stated that people should consume at least two servings of cold-water fish per week.

Cold-water fish is a kind of fish that can only survive in water with a temperature lower than 20 degrees Celsius (or 78 degrees Fahrenheit). Unlike warm-water fish, cold-water fish need more fat to maintain body temperature, and the unsaturated, healthier fats under their skin act as antifreeze in the water. Therefore, cold-water fish are one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and the fat a fish contains is perfectly suited for its survival. The colder the water, the better the fat has to be.

What Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?

Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Since our body cannot synthesize omega-3 fatty acids, the only way to maintain normal physiological functions is to supplement these oleic acids from external food. There are three main omega-3 fatty acids—linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is mainly found in vegetable oils, such as flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil. Fish and other seafood contain DHA and EPA.

Cold-Water Fish Are Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Sardines. Slender, silvery little fish that can be eaten fresh, dried, smoked, or cured. Sardines with tomatoes, and sardines with onions, are very tasty. They contain 1,950 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per 3 ounces.

Salmon. With small scales, few spines, and orange-red flesh, it is a tender and tasty fish, and a classic of sashimi. Wild salmon is even richer in omega-3 fatty acids, containing 1,060 mg in 3 ounces.

Albacore tuna. The flesh of tuna is purplish-red in color, similar to beef. It is high in hemoglobin, low in fat, and high in protein. Adding canned tuna to a sandwich or salad is both delicious and inexpensive. It contains 900 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per 3 ounces of tuna.

Mackerel. Mackerel is one kind of cold-water fish that is often overlooked. It offers 20 grams of high-quality protein per 3-ounce portion, along with vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, and zinc. It will be delicious if served with roasted veggies with lemon juice, and a bed of quinoa or braised kale on the side.

Herring. Usually, herring is marinated in vinegar, but of course, fillets marinated in wine are also a good choice. You can also serve it with some cream and eggs, or make it into a sandwich. It tastes delicious, and herring contains about 2000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per 3 ounces.

If you don’t enjoy eating fish, you can consume fish oil supplements or other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These include:

Vegetables—spinach, kale, avocados, beans.

Nuts—walnuts, almonds, flaxseed.

Oils—flaxseed oil, canola oil, walnut oil, hemp seed oil.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Can Protect Brain Health

According to research published in October 2022 by Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), omega-3 levels in the red blood cells are positively associated with brain structure and cognitive function in healthy volunteers in their 40s and 50s. The data was analyzed by researchers at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and other researchers from the Framingham Heart Study.

Dr. Claudia Satizabal, an assistant professor of population health sciences at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio, was one of the major researchers in the study. She noted that the study’s new finding was that taking omega-3-rich fatty acids was effective in protecting our brains from many of the indicators of aging as we age.

The study involved 2,183 dementia-free and stroke-free participants, whose average age was 46. The research examined the relationship between concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cells and cognitive markers of aging in the brain. The omega-3 red blood cell concentrations in volunteers carrying apolipoprotein Eε4 (APOE 4), the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), were compared as well. The results showed that a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with better abstract reasoning or logical thinking skills.

Another surprising finding of the study was that those who consumed the least amount of omega-3 fatty acids showed poor brain health outcomes. There was also a subset of the population that had a lower intake of omega-3 fatty acids, but their brain health was not too bad. This suggested that omega-3s benefit your brain, but you need to eat enough of it to observe substantial benefits.

Researchers don’t yet know how omega-3s protect the brain. One theory suggests that because these fatty acids are needed in neuronal membranes when they are replaced by other types of fatty acids, neurons (nerve cells) become unstable. Another explanation may have to do with the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3s. “It’s complicated. We don’t know everything yet, but we show that if you increase your omega-3 intake a little bit anyway, you’re protecting your brain,” Satizabal said.

Is It Harmful to Eat More Omega-3 Fatty Acids?

There is no detailed data to determine what amount of omega-3 fatty acids are best for a healthy person to consume daily. However, it is recommended that 1.6 grams (1,600 mg) per day is sufficient to meet human requirements. Some studies have shown that 0.25 grams of EPA and DHA per day are sufficient for adult men and women. For ALA, the NIH recommends an adequate intake dose of 1.6 grams per day for adult males and 1.1 grams per day for adult females.

Excessive intake of omega-3 fatty acids can produce side effects, but they are generally mild and include bad breath, sweat, headache, heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea. One caveat: People taking anticoagulant medications should be careful as consuming excessive amounts of omega-3 fatty acids may result in bleeding problems.

 

 

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Are You Familiar With These 20 Herbs That Can Be Used As Medicine?



5 Hidden Places You May Find BPA

 

Read more about the Author of this article, Chris Chen.

Are You Familiar With These 20 Herbs That Can Be Used As Medicine?

Are You Familiar With These 20 Herbs That Can Be Used As Medicine?

Fresh Bergamot fruits and leaves (Ton Wanniwat/Shutterstock)

We are more familiar with herbs when they are included in our culinary experience in restaurants we frequent or even at home. But years ago, these herbs were recognized by our ancestors as a solution for different ailments.

  1. Thyme – This herb is recommended for respiratory diseases. Its most notable chemical compound, thymol, is recognized for its strong antiseptic action.
  2. Calendula – The petals of Calendula are rich in flavonoids, a plant metabolite thought to provide health benefits through cell signaling pathways and antioxidant effects.
  3. Motherwort – This herbal plant is effective in reducing dysmenorrhea pain, and correcting amenorrhea. It is also known for its stress and anxiety relieving properties.
  4. Echinacea – Several benefits brought by these herb includes fighting off cancer, alleviating joint pain, stimulating the growth of blood cells, and improving the immune system.
  5. Lavender – Lavender contains antioxidant properties that help in reducing inflammation.
  6. Chamomile – Chamomile is very popular for effectively curing an upset stomach. Furthermore, it helps solve problems related to sleeping, morning sickness, skin swelling, and other skin problems.
  7. Dandelion – Dandelion, a flowering plant, is known for being used as a detoxifying agent for the liver and the kidney. Dandelion can also help treat infections, minimizes swelling, balances blood sugar, and improves pancreas function.
  8. Sage – Sage disinfects sores, heals ulcers, and cures coughs and hoarseness.
  9. Peppermint – Peppermint is used to alleviate ailments such as dyspepsia, gastritis, intestinal colic, and spasms of the bile duct, gallbladder and GI tract.
  10. Burdock – Burdock is useful for gout, arthritis, glandular swelling, canker sores, burns, skin wounds, and hemorrhoids.
  11. Holy basil – This herbal plant is also known for having anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
  12. Spilanthes – This herb has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties making it a potent medicine for disinfecting wounds and curing ringworm infection.
  13. Chickweed – Chickweed has high nutritional value and has astringent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, and demulcent properties.
  14. Lemon balm – Easy to grow, the lemon balm is popular for its anti-viral and relaxing properties. It can also be used to treat upset stomach, freshen breath, and treat sores.
  15. Milk thistle – It is a herb rich in vitamins E and C. Milk thistle is also used to treat liver and gallbladder problems.
  16. Witch hazel – Witch Hazel contains procyanidins, resin, and flavonoids that promote anti-inflammatory agents and relieve hemorrhoid pain.
  17. Aloe vera – It is widely used to heal wounds and various skin and hair conditions. Orally taken, and this herb can act as a laxative.
  18. Yarrow – It has an active compound that acts as tryptic (stops bleeding), astringent (makes tissue contract), antiseptic (inhibits bacterial growth), vulnerary (helps tissue heal), anti-inflammatory, and possibly anesthetic. Several studies also show its benefits to ease menstruation for spasm and flow.
  19. Feverfew – This herb brings down the temperature, thus lowering fever. It has a substance that acts similarly to as aspirin. It effectively treats pain by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins.
  20. Bergamot – It’s essential oils help treat high fever, intestinal worms, and even malaria. It can also be used for aromatherapy and act as a tonic for the nervous system. Its scent can help alleviate stress, anxiety, tension headache, and depression.

 

Reported by: The Epoch Times

 

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5 Hidden Places You May Find BPA



A Drink to Happiness – Coffee, Reduces Risk of Suicide & Depression

 

5 Hidden Places You May Find BPA

5 Hidden Places You May Find BPA

Getty Images

 

People mostly associate the chemical BPA with the current controversy over plastic water bottles used for water here in the United States. Bottled water is so popular, in fact, that this country goes through some 1,500 plastic bottles every second, with about 80% of them winding up in a landfill. The waste is bad enough, but the problem is compounded because these plastics contain Bisphenol A (BPA) a chemical compound known as a xenoestrogen which has been linked to cancer in many studies. And water bottles are not the only sources of contamination. Read on to find out more about 5 other potential BPA sources that many are not aware of.

 

Boxed Wine

Wine in general is touted for its many health benefits, especially red wine which has been linked to the promotion of cardiac health. However, consumers need to be aware that wine can be laced with BPA if it is fermented in vats with plastic liners or if it is put inside a the plastic containers that are used in boxed wine. Not all companies who make boxed wine are guilty of this, however, and if they are BPA-free, it will generally say so clearly on the label.

 

Toilet Paper

In one study with profoundly disturbing implications, researchers in Denmark found that all but one of the toilet paper samples studied contained xenoestrogens, and found that BPA concentrations in the toilet paper are so high that they deemed it to be an important source of xenoestrogen pollution in wastewater. The long-term consequences of BPA exposure to such delicate parts of the body certainly warrants further research, but in the meantime, finding toilet paper made from BPA-free material like bagasse is certainly a safe alternative.

 

Dental Sealants

Researchers from the Mt. Sinai medical school in New York conducted studies on the sealants which dentists use to protect tooth damage and found that when these sealants are exposed to saliva, they can metabolize into BPA. The BPA can remain in the mouth for several hours after the dental procedure, but further studies should be done to determine what, if any, long-term health risks are associated with this.

 

Receipts

Cash register receipts do not strike most consumers as being even remotely harmful, but after a study of BPA, the Environmental Working Group found that nearly 40% of receipts tested were on heat-activated paper and averaged around 3% BPA by weight. Damp laboratory paper was used in a “wipe test” and was able to easily pick up BPA from the coating on the receipts. This means it would likely be transmitted through casual human contact.

 

Canned Goods

Another common source of BPA that many people may not be aware of is canned goods. In 2009, for instance, tests conducted on a number of common canned food products, including popular items like tuna, green beans, juice and soups, found that almost all of the 19 foods tested contained some level of BPA, and this was true for organic and nonorganic products, as well as for those labelled “BPA-free”.

In short, BPA is common in many more products than many consumers realize. It can, in fact, be hidden even in many of the common products listed above.

 

Sources for this article:
Natural News Blogs

 

 

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A Drink to Happiness – Coffee, Reduces Risk of Suicide & Depression



Study Shows Pharmaceutical Ads Make People Want Prescriptions

 

 

A Drink to Happiness – Coffee, Reduces Risk of Suicide & Depression

A Drink to Happiness – Coffee, Reduces Risk of Suicide & Depression

(Photo by Anna Urlapova/Pexels)

 

Coffee is more than just a drink – its warmth, invigoration, it brings people together, and it’s often the start of new things great and small – like starting ones day. Now, emerging research indicates that coffee’s potential benefits extend far beyond even these reasons; according to one study, coffee may even help prevent suicide.

Other recent studies show that coffee can even help protect against dementia, Parkinson’s disease, as well as a host of other serious conditions.

 

Coffee Consumption Cuts Risk of Suicide Almost in Half

The research on the affects of coffee on suicide was conducted by professors of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, and published in July 2013 in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry.

The study, taking over two decades to complete and involved nearly a quarter of a million participants, shows that people who drink two to three cups of coffee a day are at much lower risk of killing themselves than drinkers of decaffeinated coffee and non-coffee drinkers.  Incredibly, moderate, daily coffee consumption slashed suicide rates by almost 50 percent – a truly astounding figure. If a pharmaceutical antidepressant achieved this type of dramatic benefit, manufacturers would be shouting it from the rooftops. Turns out, antidepressants are a scam.

LINK TO https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/07/new-study-says-antidepressants-not-answer-depression/

Of course, it almost goes without saying, we are not suggesting that people drink any of the popular brands from Starbucks and stores loaded with junk sweeteners and other horrible ingredients.  As with anything you choose to consume, it should be of the highest quality sources to reduce the risk of toxicity from chemicals, something abundant in the coffee bean industry. Which is why we partnered with TheGreatAwakeningCoffee.com to provide gourmet and organic coffee to patriots with fresh roast on demand or whole bean options from around the world!

Back to the study: the results, were not surprising; past epidemiological studies have shown lower rates of depression among coffee drinkers. Researchers believe that coffee’s mood-lifting effects stem from the way it increases the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline. Think of how much physical work such as running that you’d need in order to get that kind of activity from your heart?

 

 

Warning: Ingesting Excessive Caffeine Can Still Be Dangerous

The research team added that drinking more than three cups of coffee a day – or ingesting over 400 milligrams of caffeine – carries no additional benefit, and can cause unpleasant side effects.

In fact, one Finnish study showed that those who drank larger quantities of coffee – eight and nine cups a day – actually had a higher suicide risk than moderate coffee drinkers.

 

According to Just-Released Research, Caffeine in Coffee Can Actually Help to Prevent Parkinson’s Disease

According to a separate Swedish study published in July 2014 in the scientific journal PLoS One, coffee – along with the presence of a certain genetic mutation – can actually help prevent Parkinson’s disease.

While both environmental and genetic factors play a role in the development of this neurodegenerative condition, researchers have found that variations in one specific gene – a glutamate receptor gene known as GRIN2A – can help to shield against it.  Caffeine, which integrates with the dopamine receptor, works in conjunction with this genetic mutation to lower Parkinson’s risk.

 

Organic Coffee Has More to Offer Than Just Its Caffeine Content

Good coffee has wonderfully high levels of potent antioxidants, including trigonelline, catechol, and N-methylpyrinidium.  Researchers say that an ordinary cup of coffee contains 1,000 different compounds.  Further study is needed to explore the full effects of these beneficial substances.

 

Meanwhile, evidence of the link between coffee and longer life continues to accumulate.

In a study of 400,000 participants conducted by the National Cancer Institute and the American Association of Retired People and published in 2012 in New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that older adults who drank multiple cups of coffee (every day) – either decaf or “high-test” – had lower risk of death overall than non-coffee drinkers. Participants were less likely to die from stroke, heart and respiratory disease, infection, and diabetes, and were less likely to suffer fatal injuries and accidents.

Other studies have linked coffee drinking to better blood vessel health and to reduced risk of certain cancers, including oral cancer, liver cancer, and a lethal form of prostate cancer.

Still, coffee may not be appropriate for everyone.

According to Mayo Clinic, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine, a day is safe for most healthy adults.  However, children should not ingest caffeine at all, and teens should not consume more than 100 milligrams a day.

Caffeine, which is classified as a stimulant, can cause adverse effects in some individuals, including anxiety, insomnia, irritability, stomach upset, and muscle tremors.  Taking certain medications or herbs along with coffee can intensify the effects of caffeine.  And, of course, people with anxiety disorders should avoid caffeinated coffee.

For maximum health benefit – look for fair trade, organic coffee that is free of pesticides and chemicals. From what the latest research tells us, a cup of fresh-brewed, flavorful organic coffee really is good to the last drop.

 

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Study Shows Pharmaceutical Ads Make People Want Prescriptions



Your Body’s Most Powerful Antioxidant and Detoxifier

 

Sources for this article include:

 

NIH.gov

ScienceDaily.com

MayoClinic.org

 

Study Shows Pharmaceutical Ads Make People Want Prescriptions

Study Shows Pharmaceutical Ads Make People Want Prescriptions

These ads are illegal in most countries but not in the US, where 27% of people spoke to their doctor about a medical treatment after they learned about it from an ad. Do you actually believe it’s there to help you?

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Research from health care advertising technology company DeepIntent revealed that 27% of people spoke to their doctor about a medical treatment after they learned about it from an ad
  • Earlier data found that “pharmaceutical ads can empower patients to take a more active role in researching treatments” and “advertising influences patients’ decision to follow through in taking drugs prescribed by their doctors”
  • The most common action that people take after viewing a drug ad is to conduct research, and this research becomes the most important factor in medication adherence — even more than the person’s own previous experience taking the drug
  • Marketers intend to use increasingly targeted ads via your smart TV, cellphone and desktop computer to increase drug sales even more
  • DeepIntent CEO Chris Paquette said in a news release, “We have evidence that more relevant advertising drives real results for our clients”

Television advertisements for prescription drugs are illegal in virtually every country on the planet — but not in the U.S., where 80 such ads air, on average, every hour on Americans’ televisions.1 “Ask your doctor,” the narrators tell viewers, urging them to bring up the latest name-brand drugs at their next physician’s visit.



Prior to the 1980s, these types of direct-to-consumer (DTC) ads were unheard of,2 even in the U.S., but within a few decades they became among the most common public health messages seen by Americans.

This marketing shift turned out to be incredibly lucrative for Big Pharma, but its effects on public health — and individual health — are highly questionable, as the ads continue to drive consumers to request drugs from their doctors,3 whether they need them or not.

FDA’s Loose Guidelines Paved the Way for TV Drug Ads

Before the 1980s, pharmaceutical companies marketed directly to doctors, instead of to patients. Drug industry executives even told Congress at the time that they believed directly advertising drugs to consumers was not “in the public health interest” and “cannot safely be accomplished.”4

A cultural shift soon emerged, however, to empower patients to be more involved in their own health care, instead of solely listening to their doctors. Advertisers jumped on the trend but, still, drug advertisements to consumers only appeared in print ads, including in magazines, but not on TV.

This was due to the U.S. FDA’s requirements to include all drug risks and side effects in the ads, which could be done on pages of print but was much more difficult to accomplish on TV or radio commercials.

A strange loophole existed, however, which allowed drug ads to run without stating the risks and side effects, as long as it also didn’t mention the disease the drug was intended to treat.5 This is highly likely related to the industry finally capturing the federal regulatory agencies responsible for protecting the public.

Not surprisingly, this led to confusion, prompting a loosened requirement from the FDA in 1997, which stated that ads only had to include the drug’s “major” side effects and refer viewers to a source where they could find the rest.

Even if viewers do end up seeking out the full list of side effects, the info seldom scares patients away. Everything is designed to make you tune out the risks and view the drug in a desirable light, from actors who use an appealing voice tone to beautiful images and music choices.

The removal of the requirement to list all drug side effects in ads paved the way for on-air drug ads, and the rest is history. By 2004, annual spending on drug advertisements quadrupled,6 making name-brand drugs like Lipitor, Lunesta, Xanax and Ambien household names.

Patient Requests Have ‘Profound’ Effect on Doctors

By 2003, U.S. DTC advertising of prescription drugs had reached $3.2 billion.7 For comparison, it reached $6.58 billion in 2020, excluding social media.8 The profound way it influenced patients was recognized from the start, with critics stating that the ads led to over-prescribing of “unnecessary, expensive and potentially harmful medications.”9

By 2005, a randomized controlled trial had been published in JAMA to determine the influence of patients’ requests for directly advertised drugs, in this case antidepressants.10 Patient actors visited physicians, describing symptoms of depression in half of the visits and in the other half stating “they were feeling down,” a description of an adjustment disorder that doesn’t typically require immediate drug treatment.11

In some of the visits, the patients mentioned seeing a commercial for the antidepressant Paxil, while in others they didn’t mention any medications. Patients who mentioned Paxil were more likely to be referred for a mental health consultation and receive a prescription for an antidepressant, whether they were describing symptoms of depression or simply “feeling down.”

According to study author Dr. Richard Kravitz, “For us, it typified the double-edged sword which direct-to-consumer advertising represents.”12 Prescribing rates for the drugs were highest when patients made general requests for medications — 76% of such visits resulted in a prescription, compared with 31% of those in which the patient made no medication request.13

Targeted Smart TV Drug Ads Increase Drug Sales

DTC drug ads are getting “smarter” as the years go by, and now marketers are using targeted ads driven by your viewing habits, which are streamed directly to you via your smart TV. DeepIntent, a health care advertising technology company “built to influence patient health and business outcomes,”14 conducted research on consumer behaviors and ad-supported content.

The majority of “connected TV” (CTV), or smart TV, viewers (64%) said they would rather watch ads than pay more to view the content. DeepIntent surveyed 2,900 U.S. adults on self-reported viewing habits and compared it to data gleaned using “automated content recognition (ACR) technology,” which was developed in partnership with LG Ads Solutions, a provider of native ads to LG smart TVs along with “audience targeting data.”15

Their first finding was that while many people believe they’re watching TV via cable or satellite box, most are actually streaming the content via their smart TV — “meaning that more than half of viewers may be watching CTV content without even realizing it,” DeepIntent explained.16

The implication is that they have a greater number of viewers than previously realized to target with their ad campaigns, via not only smart TVs but other devices like your desktop computer and smartphone. According to DeepIntent, doing so is known to influence patient outcomes:17

“DeepIntent … announced its complete integration with LG Ads Solutions’ real-time ACR data repository covering more than 30 million LG smart TVs in the United States. DeepIntent is the first and only demand side platform (DSP) with this capability, offering healthcare marketers unparalleled targeting capabilities for all digital formats, including CTV, desktop, and mobile.

‘For too long, healthcare marketers have struggled to reach relevant audiences at scale. By combining the targeting power of CTV with ACR data, DeepIntent’s patented technology optimizes campaign audience quality and script performance in real-time,’ said DeepIntent Senior Vice President of Analytics John Mangano. ‘Consumer research has proven that this combination influences patient outcomes.’”



27% Asked Their Doctor About a Drug From an Ad

DeepIntent’s research findings revealed that 30% of people said pharmaceutical ads provide helpful information to someone in their household, and 27% spoke to their doctor about a medical treatment after they learned about it from an ad.18

The findings support earlier data from the company, which found that “pharmaceutical ads can empower patients to take a more active role in researching treatments” and “advertising influences patients’ decision to follow through in taking drugs prescribed by their doctors.”19

The most common action that people take after viewing a drug ad is to conduct research, and this research becomes the most important factor in medication adherence — even more than the person’s own previous experience taking the drug. They intend to use targeted ads to increase drug sales even more. DeepIntent CEO Chris Paquette said in a news release, “We have evidence that more relevant advertising drives real results for our clients.”20

Through their partnership with LG Ads Solutions, DeepIntent is using native ads to drive more sales. Another tactic is native content, also known as sponsored content or branded content, which is written by marketers but passes as real journalism. The sponsored content is a media response to banner ads that are widely ignored, ad blocking technology and readers’ almost universal dislike of pop-ups and screen takeovers.

It also fills webpages without the need to pay writers — instead, sponsors pay the media on whose site or in whose publication the content appears. Some of the content is innocuous and even amusing, but other native content like “Could Statins Cut Alzheimer’s Risk?” found on WebMD21 or “How Testosterone Benefits Your Body” is unabashed Pharma marketing masquerading as unbiased information.

Limitless Lobbying, Advertising Budgets

The marketing of prescription drugs, health services, laboratory tests and even disease awareness is big business in the U.S., and spending has been on a steady uphill climb since 1997. That year, spending on medical marketing was $17.7 billion, which rose to $29.9 billion in 2016.22

DTC spending increased the most rapidly, from 11.9% of total spending to 32%. DTC prescription drug ads accounted for $6 billion in spending alone in 2016, which amounted to 4.6 million ads, including 663,000 television commercials, mostly for high-cost biologics and cancer immunotherapies.

Disease awareness campaigns are another type of marketing campaign run by pharmaceutical companies geared at diseases treated by their drugs. Such campaigns rose in numbers from 44 in 1997 to 401 in 2016, with spending increasing from $177 million to $430 million over the same period.

DTC marketing for health services also rose from $542 million to $2.9 billion, with spending increases particularly notable for hospitals, dental centers, cancer centers, mental health and addiction clinics and medical services, such as home health care.23

Aside from DTC advertising, Big Pharma is still marketing directly to health professionals — an area that accounted for the most professional spending, according to a JAMA study on medical marketing in the U.S.24

“Pharmaceutical marketing to health professionals accounted for most spending and remains high even with new policies to limit industry influence,” the researchers, from The Dartmouth Institute’s Center for Medicine in the Media, noted. “Despite the increase in marketing over 20 years, regulatory oversight remains limited.”25

Annual lobbying on pharmaceuticals and health products has been on the rise since 2013,26 and in 2021 the pharmaceutical industry was the top lobbying group in Washington, spending far more than any other industry — $356.6 million.27 Among their top priorities in 2019 was fiercely opposing a bill that would reduce drug costs,28 and, another eye-opening statistic — nearly 60% of Big Pharma’s lobbyists are former government employees.29

So, when you see an advertisement for a drug on TV or your computer, resist the urge to believe that it’s there to help you and see it for what it really is — a marketing tactic with the sole purpose of increasing sales for the drug industry.

 

 

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Your Body’s Most Powerful Antioxidant and Detoxifier



7 Benefits of Eating Locally

 

Originally published June 15, 2022 on Mercola.com

Sources and References

 

Your Body’s Most Powerful Antioxidant and Detoxifier

Your Body’s Most Powerful Antioxidant and Detoxifier

Glutathione is your body’s most powerful antioxidant and detoxifying agent, and it’s also something of a well-kept secret. Outside the wellness community, few people have even heard of it, but it’s now time to lift the curtain on this life-saving molecule that delivers incredible benefits, and even helps slow the aging process. Though glutathione’s not a magic health bullet per se, it comes pretty close, and getting more of it is absolutely essential to eliminating toxins from your body, keeping disease at bay, maintaining youth and sustaining wellness. Come up short and you’re putting yourself in the path of all manner of health problems, but get enough and glutathione’s health-supportive properties can be the difference between a vibrant, energetic life and one that’s anything but.

Here are some of the reasons why I prescribe glutathione – for both cleansing support and everyday use – and why I too take it every day:

So, Where’s It Been All My Life?

Though supplementation with glutathione has been around for years, few people were aware of it because, until recently, the only way to take it was through an IV. Oral forms weren’t very successful because they were poorly absorbed – the stomach would diligently break down about 90% of it, preventing most of the glutathione from getting to where it needed to go. Now, however, an easily absorbed version, known as acetyl glutathione, has been developed, and at last, the benefits of glutathione can be enjoyed conveniently in pill form, without the IV drip.

Glutathione Hoovers-up Toxins and Keeps You Young All Over

Comprised of three amino acids, glutathione is the single most powerful antioxidant your body produces and recycles. It’s made in the liver, the organ most responsible for detoxifying your body, so optimal liver function is absolutely essential. If your liver isn’t functioning well, glutathione production suffers, toxins overwhelm it and illness, both short term and long, are not far behind. Keep your glutathione levels high however and it:

  • Protects your DNA from damage and maintains optimal immunity
  • Protects against free radicals, tamps down inflammation and helps fend off heart disease, cancer, neurological decline, dementia and many more of the debilitating diseases we fear most
  • Neutralizes and clears heavy metals and toxins from the body
  • Keeps your mitochondria pumping out energy
  • Delivers powerful anti-aging benefits. In fact, low glutathione levels have been linked to every major aging process in the human body, so by fighting back with glutathione, you can help keep you energy levels higher, for longer.

In short, glutathione allows your body to detoxify itself and in so doing, helps keep you healthy for the long haul. It’s the ultimate health-supportive champ – and it’s the one you want in your corner.

Trouble Is, You’re Not Making Enough Of It

The not-so-great news is that the odds of having optimal glutathione levels much past the age of 20 are pretty slim. With aging, your body is fighting a bit of a losing battle, with natural production dropping by roughly 10% per decade. Do the math. By the time you hit 60, you’re working with a bit over half the amount you made during your college years. For many people, that translates to flagging energy, lowered immunity and a host of low-grade ills. And while aging is inevitable, feeling lousy while doing it is not. By boosting one’s glutathione levels, many people can slow the losses of the aging process and possibly stop some major health problems from setting up camp in your body.

You May Be Unwittingly Short-changing Your Supply

In addition to aging, there are other forces taking a bite out of your glutathione production. You’ll want to pay attention to the classic health-suckers: stress, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and some prescription meds to name a few. Another major depleter: toxic overload, or heavy long term exposure to toxins and pollution, which not only contributes to glutathione depletion but also inhibits the liver’s ability to produce it.

Hey Doc, How Do I Get Some?

To optimize your glutathione supply, I recommend a multi-pronged approach, combining a nutrient-dense diet with stress-reduction, exercise and smart supplementation. Here are a few ways to top off your tank:

  • Exercise triggers glutathione production, so finding a routine that works for you is the way to go. If you’re just getting into a workout groove, start slow and build up over time. An overly aggressive exercise program right out of the gate can do more harm than good and inadvertently facilitate the production of those health-harming free radicals – so again, don’t over-do it!
  • Unmanaged, chronic stress depletes glutathione, so commit to getting it under control! Take stress down a few notches with calming practices like meditation, mindfulness exercises, yoga or tai chi.
  • Then there’s your diet. Be sure to include foods that support and stimulate glutathione production. Top picks include: garlic and onions, as well as asparagus, avocados, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, parsley and watercress. Cinnamon, cardamom and curcumin also offer benefits.
  • For smoothie fans, whey protein is also helpful – but just be sure to get the good stuff, meaning organic, non-denatured (un-heated) whey, from grass-fed cows, free of additives or sweeteners.
  • Another way to encourage glutathione production? Take steps to minimize your exposure to toxins. By doing so you’ll lighten your toxic load and reduce the strain on your glutathione stores. The easiest ways to cut down exposure: filtering your water; using gentler organic or homemade, natural cleaning products; reducing the use of personal care products; switching to glass for food storage and reheating.
  • To achieve optimal levels, I also recommend supplementation. When purchasing, make sure you’re getting acetyl Glutathione to ensure bioavailability – and reap maximum benefit.

This article was originally published on www.drfranklipman.com read the original here

 

Incase you missed it:

7 Benefits of Eating Locally



DIY Kefir – Superfood Probiotic (Milk or Water Recipes)

 

7 Benefits of Eating Locally

7 Benefits of Eating Locally

If you’ve ever enjoyed treats from the farmers market on a Saturday morning, you know how enjoyable it is to eat locally. Eating local means enjoying fruit, vegetables, and other foods grown by farmers and producers within your community. 

Here are 7 benefits of eating locally you might not have thought about. 

1. Eat Local, Eat Fresh

Many of the foods in your supermarket are grown in different states or different countries. When you eat locally, the food is very fresh because it’s grown right where you live. You can taste the freshness because it was picked just a few days before you bought it.



2. Delicious and Nutritious 

Processing, transportation, or sitting on shelves cause nonlocal foods to lose considerable nutrition. In fruits and vegetables, vitamin C and antioxidants decline almost right away. Since locally grown produce doesn’t spend time sitting around, there’s no chance for it to lose its valuable nutrients. 

 

3. Widen Your Horizons

While at the farmers market, you might run into locally-grown food that you’ve never encountered before. Trying new things is a fun & interesting way to learn food history and agricultural techniques of your community. You might even find a new favorite flavor while you’re at it!

 

4. Going Green

You’re creating less pollution and a smaller carbon footprint since the food travels a much shorter distance to reach you when buying locally. It also cuts down on plastic packaging since you can purchase produce just as it comes. Shopping at a farmers market also supports your local ecosystems by maintaining green spaces in the area. 

 

5. Boost the Economy

Your money circulates within the local economy when you buy local. This increases employment and income within a community, further promoting the local economy and opportunities.

 

6. The More You Know

The farmers market is a great place to connect with people who can teach you how food is grown. You can strengthen your relationship with your community and learn about sustainable farming practices all in the same breath. 

 

7. It’s Easy!

All you have to do to start eating locally is check out your local farmers markets, co-ops, or farm-to-table restaurants.

 

Eat Great Food Locally

Eating locally benefits more than just your health. It also does wonders for your community morale, economy, and environment. Take a minute to stop by your local farmers market this weekend and enjoy fresh ingredients packed with nutrients.



DIY Kefir – Superfood Probiotic (Milk or Water Recipes)

DIY Kefir – Superfood Probiotic (Milk or Water Recipes)




 

If you have access to a television, chances are you have seen the commercials for the yogurt that claims to make you more “regular.” You might wonder how a yogurt can have this effect on the body. The answer? Probiotics.

Until modern times, most cultures incorporated some sort of fermented, probiotic food into their diet as a matter of course. Unfortunately, as we became more modernized, we learned about bacteria and, in fear, began sterilizing everything we come into contact with in our first world lives. We also began to shy away from foods that have been fermented, even though they had been eaten without a problem for generations. Maybe it was a matter of health concern, or perhaps it was a matter of convenience. After all, “modern” first-world eating often relies on shelf-stable foods that are highly processed and, as a result, lifeless. Removing the beneficial probiotic foods has left many people unarmed in the fight against bad bacteria and other flora in the gut. Yogurt products and others like them are an attempt to add probiotics back into the diet and get more healthy gut flora to help win the battle for good health.

Adding probiotics into the diet is one way to balance the good/bad bacteria ratio in the gut. When the good bacteria are on the winning side, the gut tends to function more normally. Additionally, the immune system is strengthened (did you know that about 85 percent of the immune system is in the gut?) and often upper digestive issues can be alleviated without the use of antacids or prescription drugs.

 

Where Do I Get Probiotics?

There are many avenues one can take to get probiotics into their system. You may purchase the advertised yogurt or the pills that make these health claims, or you can choose to make your own probiotics. Freshly made probiotics can be easy to make and cost substantially less than a similar product from the grocery store. Even more importantly, the probiotic foods you make at home will have far more beneficial live bacteria than products that have been sitting a long while at the store.

 

What Foods Are Considered Probiotic?

Some of the probiotic foods that you can make at home for little cost are yogurt, milk kefir, water kefir, and fermented foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi. Another option for a homemade source of probiotics is kombucha tea.

 

When I first began learning how to make my own probiotics, I started with making yogurt. As a young mother of three, I found yogurt making to be a challenge. It is not particularly hard to make, but the timing and temperature gauging were hit-and-miss at times with children calling for my attention. I was relieved to eventually discover that there was an easier option—milk kefir—and I have made it instead of yogurt for a few years now.

 

Milk Kefir—It’s So Easy!

For the purpose of this article, I will share how I make my milk kefir, as I feel it is the easiest of the homemade probiotics that you can make.

Getting Started with Milk Kefir Grains

To make milk kefir, you will need to get your hands on some milk kefir grains. These may be purchased online, or you may be able to find someone local to you that can spare a few. I acquired my first kefir grains from an online friend. It doesn’t take many. I began my first batch with about a half-tablespoon of kefir grains. A tablespoon would have been better, but I just started using less milk than I would usually use.

Milk kefir grains resemble small cauliflower florets, as they are white, somewhat firm, and rubbery to the touch. The longer you make your milk kefir, the more your grains will grow, and you will have extra to either save for a later time, as backup in case something happens to your other grains, or to give to a friend.

The Secret “Survival Vitamin” You Should Buy And Bury…

Keep It Clean

Cleanliness is important, no matter what you are fermenting. Be sure to use clean dishes and utensils. You may reuse the jar you use to make kefir in, but it is wise to wash it every so often, as kefir tends to dry on the upper areas of the jar the longer when it is reused without washing. Also, be careful not to allow metal to come into contact with the kefir for any extended amount of time, as it can be reactive and cause an off flavor in the finished product.

 



 

How To Make Milk Kefir

Items you will need:

    Clean quart size jar

    Jar lid or a clean cloth and string or rubber band

    Plastic spoon

    Milk

    Kefir grains (about a tablespoon, but more or less is fine)

    Fine mesh colander (preferably not metal)

    Container to strain kefir into

 

Instructions:

  1. Place your kefir grains in the jar.
  2. Pour two cups milk over the grains and gently stir.
  3. Place lid on jar, but do not tighten. Alternatively, place a clean cloth over lid and secure it in place. The idea is to let air escape as the kefir ferments and to keep insects out.
  4. Allow the jar to sit at room temperature for about twenty-four hours. The longer it sits, the sourer it will become. You can adjust the fermenting time to your preferences.
  5. After twenty-four hours, the kefir grains should have had enough time to make the milk into kefir.  If the grains were dormant, you might need to repeat this process before the kefir is truly fermented. The grains will “wake up” and start behaving normally now that they have a food supply. The first batch or two after the grains have been dormant may need to be thrown out.

Once your kefir grains have made kefir, follow these steps:

  1. Place a colander over container.
  2. Pour the milk kefir through the colander into the container, catching the kefir grains. Depending on thickness, you may need to stir the kefir or thump the colander a bit to make it strain through.
  3. Return the kefir grains to the jar, pour in two cups milk, and cover as before.
  4. Allow the jar to sit twenty-four hours to make kefir for the next day.
  5. Your kefir in the container is ready to consume as is, or it may be refrigerated for later use. If you or your loved one has issues digesting lactose, the kefir may sit another twenty-four hours at room temperature without the grains in it. This will allow the existing bacteria to further digest the lactose in the milk kefir, making it much less likely to cause digestive issues.

 

I’ve Made The Kefir—Now What Do I Do With It?

Straight kefir can be too strong for some people. Try it and see if you like it. Some ways that I personally use my kefir are chilled and drank straight or with juice added, added to smoothies, and blended with fresh or frozen fruit and poured into popsicle molds. To get the health benefits of the probiotics, you will want to consume it in an unheated state. Heat will kill the probiotics.

Sometimes kefir will separate, and it is easy to pour off the whey to use to soak grains overnight or for fermenting other foods, such as oatmeal or pancake batter, before cooking in the morning. Soaking grains helps to boost their nutritional content and availability to the body as it aids in their digestion.

If You Have Extra Kefir Grains…

If you find that you have too many milk kefir grains and your kefir is ready too quickly, it is time to either add more milk than you usually use or to remove some of your kefir grains. Extra kefir grains may be stored in a jar with milk and placed in the refrigerator. The coolness of the refrigerator will slow the fermentation process. Check on it every few weeks and switch out the milk if needed.

Alternatively, you may dehydrate your extra kefir grains and keep them in a jar in a cool place until such time that you are ready to rehydrate them and begin again. Dehydrated milk kefir grains only have about a 40 percent viability rate, according to some sources, so this would be my last choice unless I had a ton of extra grains. To dehydrate, rinse grains with well water or spring water (do NOT use chlorinated water), then spread them on a clean paper towel to dry. When dry, the grains should be hard and yellow in color. They may also be dried in an Excalibur dehydrator on the absolutely lowest setting until completely dry. After they are dried, store in a cool place or in the refrigerator or freezer. Obviously, if they are dried, you will not have to worry about feeding them.

I would encourage you to try adding some type of probiotics to your diet. Pick a source and let us know if you notice any benefit. I suspect we might all benefit from a little bit more culture in our lives.

 

 

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