Enzymes-construction workers of the body

Enzymes at work

Enzymes

Encyclopedia.com says “An enzyme is a biological catalyst. A catalyst is a chemical compound that speeds up the rate of some chemical reaction. When that chemical reaction occurs in a living organism, the catalyst is known as an enzyme”.

I like the way Howard Loomis, Jr in his book, Enzymes, The Key to Health–describes them…much easier for me to understand.  He calls them the construction workers of the body.  They use vitamins and minerals as building materials to build our amazing bodies!  If we eat a balanced diet with plenty of raw or slightly cooked vegetables, there is an adequate supply of building materials.  If our diet is lacking due to too many processed and man made foods, then it is like ordering construction materials and having no one show up at the job site to do the work.  You may have material, but no one to initiate the energy to do the work.  The building materials will remain unused until the workers show up.

All living things contain enzymes.  It is enzymes that are responsible for the vast majority of all the biochemical reactions that bring foods to maturity or ripeness.  When conditions are right, enzymes will digest the food in which they are contained.  When an apple is bruised, that brown spot that appears is the enzymes at work.  Cell walls were broken when the apple was bruised and the enzymes within the cells were freed and started doing their job—breaking down the apple.  The same the same thing happens when we bite an apple, as we chew, the enzymes are released and digestion starts to take place.

enzymes start digesting the apple as soon as the cell membrane is broken

Enzymes are energy.  They have the ability to perform the biochemical & physiological reactions that occur in all living things,  (like what the encyclopedia says about them being a catalyst)

Protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals are our food supply…the building blocks or construction materials, they do not perform work.  Enzymes are really amazing!

AIM’s BarleyLife contains live enzymes… To find out about these and other AMAZING AIM whole food supplements, visit my website http://myaimstore.com/aimforbalance/

References:                                                                                                                                           Enclycopedia.com                                                                                                                             Enzymes, the Key to Health by Howard F. Loomis, Jr.

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Importance of calcium

Are you getting enough calcium?  Are you sure it is bio-available or even being absorbed by your body?

Why is calcium so important?

Why Do We Need Calcium?

When trying to understand why calcium is important, it’s essential that you know exactly what role calcium plays in your body. Approximately 99% of the calcium currently in your body is stored in your teeth and bones. Calcium is also important for many other bodily functions, such as muscle contraction and exocytosis. Calcium is also essential for nerve conduction, the regulation of enzyme activity and the formation of cell membranes. Your body has very strict guidelines about the amount of calcium required to ensure your body will function normally.

Calcium’s role in bone formation takes place in a process called “bone mineralization”. Bones are made of a combination of mineral complexes, the most important of which is calcium phosphate. Calcium phosphate gives bones their strength, structure and density.

Calcium Deficiency

If you become deficient in calcium, several things can happen. First, your bones and teeth will begin to slowly deteriorate. This occurs because your body is pulling calcium from your bones in order to perform other essential functions. Also, being deficient in calcium for a long period of time can cause health problems such as rickets, as well as poor blood clotting. Calcium deficiency is especially dangerous for menopausal women, who are already at a much higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Having an acidic or low pH robs your body of much needed calcium as it deals with getting the pH into a normal range.

You may have been hearing for years, how milk does a body good.  That may not be true.  Because milk has been pasteurized and homogenized plus all the growth hormones and inorganic matter added…milk is NOT that good for us.  We are NOT baby cows, therefore we do NOT need cow’s milk.

Good Sources of Calcium

Great sources of calcium include broccoli, kelp, almonds, quinoa, okra, blackstrap molasses and sardines. By adding these calcium-rich foods to your diet, you can help improve the levels of calcium in your body.

How Do I Know I’m Getting Enough Calcium?

There are a few key symptoms that may signal that you’re not receiving enough calcium from your normal diet. Symptoms of a calcium deficiency may include muscle pain, muscle spasms, a tingling or numbness sensation in your hands and/or feet, as well as experiencing frequent bone fractures. If you suspect that you’re deficient in calcium, you may want to  schedule a checkup with your health practitioner and try increasing the amount of calcium-rich foods you consume, and take a bio-available calcium supplement, like AIM’s calciAIM.   Order CalciAIM 

Bio-available and tastes great!

CalciAIM™ is a natural citrus drink mix that provides free ionic calcium and bioavailable nutrients essential to proper skeletal function and overall wellness. Each scoop contains 38 percent of the daily intake of calcium, along with support minerals and vitamins such as magnesium, zinc, copper, and vitamins A, C, and D.

• Promotes proper bone density and maintenance
• Optimized calcium delivery system superior to tablets or capsules
• Supplies nutrients essential to calcium utilization
• Supports muscle contraction, central nervous system function,
  and hormone secretion
• Ideal pH for creating the most
  absorbable form of ionic calcium

references:  AIM data sheet Calcium

click to order CalciAIM

Quick & Easy Casserole

Healthy, Easy & Delicious

Nutritional Info (Per serving):  Calories: 353, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 681mg, Dietary Fiber: 11g, Total Fat: 5g, Carbs: 36g, Cholesterol: 25mg, Protein: 24g

Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 45 mins Total Time: 1 h 5 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup(s) bread crumbs, soft whole-wheat OR ground almonds
• 2 teaspoon oil, olive, extra virgin
• 2 medium sweet onion(s), finely chopped
• 1 carrot(s), finely chopped
• 2 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1/4 pounds sausage, chicken or turkey, kielbasa, thinly sliced
• 31 ounce(s) beans, Great Northern, or cannellini – 2 15.5-ounce cans, rinsed
• 1 1/2 cup(s) turkey, cooked and diced
• 1 1/2 teaspoon thyme, or 1/2 tsp dried
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• pepper, black ground, to taste
• 2 tablespoon parsley, fresh, chopped, optional

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread breadcrumbs or almonds on a baking sheet and bake until crisp and light golden, stirring occasionally, 6 to 10 minutes; set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, carrot and garlic; cook, stirring often, until just beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add kielbasa and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth, wine, beans, turkey (or chicken), thyme, salt and pepper; bring to a simmer.

3. Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs or almonds over the top and transfer the pot to the oven. Bake until browned and bubbling, 25 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, if using, and serve.

10 Ways to Control Portion Size

Correct serving size

1. Measure accurately. For foods and beverages, use a measuring cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, or food scale.

2. Learn how to estimate serving sizes. For example, three ounces of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards.  ½ cup is the size of an ice cream scoop,  1 cup is the size of a tennis ball,  1 ounce of cheese is the size of a domino

3. Use portion control dishware. Pick out smaller plates, bowls, cups, and glassware in your kitchen and measure what they hold. You might find that a bowl you thought held 8 ounces of soup actually holds 16, meaning you’ve been eating twice what you thought.

4. Dish out your servings separately. Serve food from the stove onto plates rather than family-style at the table, which encourages seconds.

5. Make your own single-serving packs.  Portion out bulk quantities of favorite foods such as pasta, rice, and cereal into individual zipper bags.

6. Add the milk before the coffee. When possible, put your  milk or creamer into the cup before adding the hot beverage to better gauge the amount used.

7. Measure oil carefully. This is especially important because oil (even the healthful kinds like olive and safflower) have many calories; don’t pour it directly into your cooking pan or over food.

8. Control portions when eating out. Eat half or share the meal with a friend. Ask for a take home container when you get your meal.  Portion out 1/2 and bring the rest home.  If eating a salad, ask for dressing on the side. Dip your fork into the dressing and then into the salad.

9. Add vegetables. Eat a cup of low-calorie vegetable soup prior to eating a meal, or add vegetables to casseroles and sandwiches to add volume without a lot of calories.  Add salsa for added flavor & vegetables but not many calories.

10. Listen to your hunger cues. Eat when hungry and stop when satisfied .  Try to gauge when you are 80 percent full and stop there.

Check out more tips at https://myfatherswellness.wordpress.com/

 

 

Dangers of Energy Drinks Video

http://www.instantpresenter.com/aimwebinar/E958DA868746

Vitamin B12

Foods high in Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12, as are all the B Vitamins, is water soluble.  That means that if the body has too much, it will be excreted through the kidneys and out through the urinary tract.

Our body cannot produce B vitamins, and so it must obtain them from food sources.  Where do we get Vitamin B12?

The only dietary sources of Vitamin B12 are animal products and bacteria: meat, fish, poultry, eggs and milk and nutritional yeast.

Vitamin B12’s role in the operations of our bodies is diverse —it helps maintain the nervous system, red blood cells, and energy metabolism.  It also helps maintain proper functioning of our brains, hearts, livers, and kidneys and is a building block of DNA.

Vitamin B12 nourishes the outer covering of our nerves called the myelin sheathe, promoting healthy conduction of energy throughout the entire nervous system. By protecting our nerve cells, B12 indirectly influences our ability to see, hear, think, and move .  B12 aids in the normal formation of the substance that keeps life flowing within: the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our bodies.

B12, a red crystalline compound (sometimes called “the red vitamin”), also helps metabolize iron, carbohydrates, and fats and is needed for proper digestion and absorption of other nutrients from food. By aiding the formation of the powerful chemical signal in our brains acetylcholine, Vitamin B12 supports memory and learning capabilities as well.

Acetylcholine (often abbreviated ACh) is an organic, polyatomic ion that acts as a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in humans and other organisms.   Acetylcholine is one of many neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the only neurotransmitter used in the motor division of the somatic nervous system (sensory neurons use glutamate and various peptides at their synapses). Acetylcholine is also the principal neurotransmitter in all autonomic ganglia. Reference: WIKIPEDIA

In cardiac tissue acetylcholine neurotransmission has an inhibitory effect, which lowers heart rate. However, acetylcholine also behaves as an excitatory neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junctions in skeletal muscle

B12 boosts our metabolism.  It helps digest our food faster and burn more calories.  The more calories we burn, the fewer calories we store as fat. If we increase our exercise level, we can boost our metabolism even more.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. A mild deficiency may cause only mild, if any, symptoms. But as the anemia worsens it may causes symptoms such as:

• weakness, tiredness or light-headedness
• rapid heartbeat and breathing
• pale skin
• sore tongue
• easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums
• stomach upset and weight loss
• diarrhea or constipation

If the deficiency is not corrected, it can damage the nerve cells. If this happens, vitamin B12 deficiency effects may include:

• tingling or numbness in fingers and toes
• difficulty walking
• mood changes or depression
• memory loss, disorientation, and dementia

Like my Father before me and many other people, my body does not have the ability to hold onto and get enough B Vitamins.  As a child, I suffered from anemia and constipation.   As  an adult, the constipation followed me as well as I was constantly tired and even depressed.  I could not figure out why. When I found out about the deficiency my Dad had,  I did some research and found that ALL my symptoms could be from lack of B Vitamins, especially Vitamin B12.  I now use some products from The AIM Companies, AIM BarleyLife Xtra, AIM LeafGreens and AIM Peak Endurance.  I find that after I started using these products, my enegry level went way up…I feel GREAT!

To find out about these and other AMAZING AIM whole food supplements, visit my website http://myaimstore.com/aimforbalance/

 

Carbohydrates-vital in a healthy diet

Choose whole grains, fruits & vegetables daily

Carbohydrates and Your Diet: Good vs. Bad 

Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet, and as you probably know— there’s much discussion about  good and bad carbs.  How can we tell which is which?  The answer is simple, yet complex…

Carbohydrates, often called “carbs,” are your body’s primary energy source, and they’re a crucial part of any  healthy lifestyle.  Carbs should never be totally eliminated, but it is important to understand that not all carbs are alike.

Carbohydrates are broken into two categories:   simple (nicknamed “bad”) or complex (nicknamed “good”).  This is based on their chemical makeup and what your body does with them.

Simple carbohydrates are composed of simple-to-digest, basic sugars and most have  little real value for your body (the exception are fruits). The higher in sugar and lower in fiber, the least beneficial the carbohydrate is for you — a good gauge for future reference  to figure out how good/bad.

Fruits and vegetables are simple carbohydrates — still composed of basic sugars, but they are drastically different from other foods in the category, like cookies and cakes. The fiber in fruits and vegetables changes the way that the body processes their sugars and this slows down their digestion, making them similar to complex carbohydrates. 

Complex carbohydrates are considered “good” because of the longer series of sugars that make them up and therefore takes the body more time to break down, like whole grains and legumes.   They generally have a lower glycemic load, which means that you will get lower amounts of sugars released at a more consistent rate — instead of peaks and valleys —to keep you going throughout the day.  This provides your body with a more even amount of energy.

Simple carbohydrates to limit in your diet include:

• Soda
• Candy
• Artificial syrups
• Sugar
• White rice, white bread, and white pasta
• Potatoes (which are technically a complex carb, but act more like simple carbs in the body)
• Pastries, cookies, pies and other desserts

You can enjoy simple carbohydrates on occasion, just don’t let them be your primary sources of carbs.   It is also better to consume them after you have eaten a meal, That way the food in your stomach will help to slow down the absorption.  If you must choose a simple carb,  some choices are better than others — a baked potato, white rice, and regular pasta — is better than— chips, cakes, pies, and cookies.

Natural Peach flavored AIM fit ‘n fiber

If you are like the average American, you may have trouble consuming enough fiber…A great addition to a healthy lifestyle is adding AIM’s Fit ‘n Fiber.  It is a great tasting high fiber product that helps keep the body’s blood sugar more even throughout the day.

Check it out or see more great AIM products on my website http://myaimstore.com/aimforbalance/