Digestive Health with natural help

Fiber and Fermented Foods support Intestinal Health

The average western diet high in refined foods, sugar, and red meats has led to an increase in digestive problems, especially those to do with the lower intestinal tract - large intestine (colon) and rectum. Disease like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, colon cancer, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence and hemorrhoids are all linked to the food we eat.

Two factors greatly influence the health of the digestive tract - fibre and fermented foods.

Fibre - natures intestinal loofah

Fiber used to be considered a useless non-nutrient that should be removed from food mostly because it seemed it was not needed by the body - it isn't absorbed into the body like other food components. Fibre is frequently removed from food - either to make it taste better or to make it easier to eat - think of a fast food chain burger bun - there is negligible fibre in that form of bread. Much the same can be said for the average white bread loaf you buy in the supermarket.

Fibre is sourced exclusively from plant material - it is the skeleton of a plant - the bit that gives it structure whether it be the seeds, stems or leaves. In fruit, vegetables, seeds, grains or nuts the fibre is generally found on the outside surface of the food. Unlike other food components eg fats or protein which are absorbed in the small intestine, fibre travels through the large intestine largely unchanged providing bulk to waste matter. Fibre protects the colon wall from being harmed because it inhibits the formation of toxins and the proliferation of harmful bacteria. Nice bulky dense stools that move through quickly also decrease the chances of the colon wall getting twisted or forming pockets where waste accumulates. Fibre is a bit like a big intestinal loofah, it gently scrubs away the waste and keeps the muscles and walls of the colon in good shape.

Fermented Foods

The second step to intestinal health is keeping the friendly microbes or gut flora happy. The food we eat not only nourishes us (hopefully) but it also nourishes the huge population of microbes that live in our digestive tract. These friendly bacteria (eg Lactobacillus acidophilus) fight the nasty toxic bacteria in our systems to keep us healthy. Eating whole grains, vegetables and fermented foods like yoghurt, fermented vegetables - sauerkraut or kimchi, miso and kombucha tea keeps the good bacteria happy. Consuming fermented foods leads to the production of lactic acid within the colon which corrects the balance between the good and bad microbes and gently tones the colon. It is believed that fermentation can magnify the benefits of all food up to 500%- this includes vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and phyto-nutrients.

Two types of fermentation

Food can be fermented two ways - by the action of fungi or bacteria. Generally fermentation fungi like yeast are used to produce alcohol which is considered biologically dead. By contrast bacteria "lower pH and ultimately produce lactic acid, effectively preserving the food while producing otherwise unavailable flavours and nutritional compounds" giving us in the end a biologically active food. (see http://www.humanecologyreview.org/pastissues/her151/scottandsullivan.pdf)

Most modern westerners don't eat a great deal of fermented foods unless you include alcohol, yoghurt or the occasional pickle. Yoghurt is by far the most mainstream popular choice but of course not everybody can happily digest yoghurt due to dairy intolerance.

Increasing your intake of fiber and fermented foods is a healthy choice. If you aren't too keen on fermented veges or miso consider adding Digest-Ease to your diet. It's a powerful probiotic which provides a bounty of predigested, functional food. It involves the fermentation of wheat grass, barley grass and alfalfa grass. and contains an impressive amino acid profile whilst providing a huge number of beneficial organisms (both probiotic and prebiotic) in each serve.

Sources - Staying Healthy with Nutrition - Elson M Haas; The Macrobiotic Way by Michio Kushi; Readers Digest Guide to Drugs and Supplements

Foods Health Digestion....Unity for Good Health

The Importance of Digestion

Good Health starts with a health digestive system. The body cannot function optimally - building new cells, providing energy and resisting sickness if it does not have the fuel it needs to function. You can eat the healthiest food available but it is of little use if you can't digest it.

Digestion is the process by which complex chemicals in food are broken down into simpler chemicals that can be asbsorbed and used by the body. Digestion begins in the mouth, through the oesphagus, stomach, small and large intestines and ends with waste being expelled by the anus. The liver, gallbladder and pancreas each play a role in facilaitating digestion.

Digestive enzymes are the substances that break down the proteins, sugars and fats we eat so our bodies can use them.

Digestive enzymes come from three main sources.

• Raw vegetables and fruit. These must be eaten raw as their enzymes are destroyed by heat.
  
  
• The liver and pancreas manufacture digestive enzymes, but according to Sandra Cabot, author of the best-selling ‘The Liver Cleansing Diet’, a fully functioning liver has become a rare commodity. Not only does the liver provide the vast majority of the chemicals required for good digestion , it also deals with toxins (such as alcohol) rendering them less harmful.
  
  
• The third source of digestive enzymes are the beneficial gut organisms. 100 trillion of these creatures should inhabit the full length of the 30ft digestive tract from mouth to anus, proliferating in the large intestine.

Beneficial gut organisms are those friendly bacteria like acidophilus and other probiotics. A Probiotic is a microbe that protects its host and prevents disease. These friendly bacteria supply vitmains like B12, K, thiamine and folic acid as well as fighting harmful bacteria. Probiotics often require the presence of prebiotics to function optimally. Prebiotics are anon-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth or activity of bacteria in the digestive system which are beneficial to the health of the body.

You can increase the number of beneficial gut organisms by eating certain foods. For example yoghurt, fermented vegetables - sauerkraut or kimchi, and kombucha tea. You can also supplement with various probiotic products available on the market today. One of these includes Digest-Ease, a Human Health Product by NTS. Digest-Ease is a powerful probiotic which provides a bounty of predigested, functional food. It contains an impressive amino acid profile and provides a huge number of beneficial organisms (both probitic and prebiotic) in each serve.

proactive maintenance of optimal wellness

We are really excited to be stocking the Human Health Products range from Nutri-Tech Solutions.

Nutri-Tech Solutions are an Australian company formed in June 1994 to achieve the goal of improving nutrition from the soil up. For the last 15 years they have pioneered a range of innovative strategies in biological agriculture. In fact, NTS is now regarded as a world leader in this field.Recently, the focus has expanded to include animal and human health solutions and their associated product developments in these arenas have proven both potent and unique. NTS remain passionately committed to the concept of improving the nutrient density of the food we eat whilst reducing the immune assault associated with farm chemicals.

NTS are leading the way in providing nutrient packed foods that assist health and vitality. The NTS philosophy focuses upon the proactive maintenance of optimal wellness rather than just treating the symptoms of disease. This is acheived through addressing key issues like digestive health, immune support and detoxification.

We have added 6 uniwue and nutrient packed NTS Human Health Products to out Healthy Choices range - they are Digest-Ease, Vita-Green Defence, MagSorb Magnesium Oil, ProGlow Prostate Support, Nutri-Salt and Sweet Health Xylitol.

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” Buddha

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” Buddha

Good health is the kind of the thing you don’t notice until you don’t have it anymore. Get a bout of the flu or visit a friend recently diagnosed with cancer and suddenly you appreciate feeling healthy. You might even start promising yourself that you will start taking better care of yourself – eat better food – get all the fruit and veg you are supposed to eat, drink more water and get some exercise.

What usually happens, at least with me, is I start to feel better again and other things like work, family and chores take priority again. All those noble health goals fade and seem much less important when I am feeling pretty healthy.

Fitting health goals into a busy lifestyle requires commitment. We need to be prepared to make health a priority.

How do you make the most of being time poor to eat well and get some exercise? It can be easier if you can take a few shortcuts.

There are many food products available – often referred to as Superfoods are packed full of nutrients. These superfoods help you to get the vitamins, minerals and other good stuff you need so your body functions properly. They can be a useful shortcut in getting nutrients from a real food source rather than popping supplements.

Incidental exercise is another shortcut. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further away from your destination, get up more often and walk around if you sit at a desk. All these things keep the blood circulating around your body – keeping you healthier.

Better health can be achieved by reducing the toxins you expose yourself to and increasing the nutrients you absorb from the food you eat. Plus drinking good clean water and moving around.

Other health considerations include being aware of the toxins around you – the air you breathe, the cleaning products you use, the make up, cleansing and sanitary products you choose.

You can make a healthier choice every day.

Certified Organic Acai Berry Powder - named as one of the planet’s Top Ten Antioxidant Superfruits!

Certified Organic Acai Berry Powder

This royal purple fruit with the rich cocoa-berry taste is consistently named as one of the planet’s Top Ten Antioxidant Superfruits!

This super healthy superfood from a wild and vigorous Brazillian tropical palm growing abundantly over 2.5 million acres of Amazon River floodplains is harvested by local tribes then freeze-dried immediately to preserve its amazing nutritional properties including:

• Essential Fatty Acids (Omegas 6 & 9)
• 19 Amino Acids (proteins)
• Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, & P (flavonoids)
• Fibre (30+%)
• Minerals (potassium, iron, phosphorous, calcium)
• Trace elements (chromium, cobalt, molybdenum)
• Phytosterols (cholesterol-busting)
• Polyphenols (free-radical-scavenging)

Acai is a secret weapon of many famous athletes who love the very low sugar content and Low Glycemic Index (GI), & 2x more antioxidants than blueberries, 10x more than red grapes, 30x more than red wine, and ORAC values higher than pomegranate, cranberries and even Goji, what’s not to love ?

Buy Certified Organic Acai Berry Powder Now

How to eat Acai Berry Powder

Serving suggestion: Add to yoghurt, smoothies, ice cream, fruit juice, water, milkshakes, muesli, or margaritas!

BEST KEPT REFRIGERATED

The serving size is about 3g or 1 teaspoon (it’s on the pack with the nutrition panel). As it is just a food, you can eat as much as you like, but common sense should prevail.

Personally I add a good heaped teaspoon to my smoothies which I have pretty much every day.

Acai Berry and Weight Loss

There is a huge amount of hype all over the media about the acai berry and weightloss. Acai Berry Powder is just a food – albeit a highly nutritious superfood.

Most people eat processed and de-natured foods which essentially leaves the body feeling starved. The body is looking to meet its nutrient needs which is why people keep feeling hungry and wanting to eat more.

Adding Acai Powder to your diet is a great way to catch up on nutrients missing in the average modern diet. By feeding your body highly nutritious foods you will crave other foods less.

The human body is healthier, and craves food less if it is being properly nourished.

Buy Acai Powder 50g

Buy Acai Powder 100g

How to pronounce Acai?

Acai is pronounced ‘ah-sigh-ee’.

Certified Organic Acai Berry Nutrition Information

Serving Size 3g
	Qty per Serving Size	Qty per 100g
Energy	78kj	2590kj
Protein	0.3g	9.1g
Fat – Total	1.5g	50.1g
- Saturated	0.2g	6.0g
Carbohydrates	1.0g	33.4g
Total Sugars	0g	1g
Sodium	5mg	179mg

So what exactly is in Maca? It's a superfood!

Maca, Lepidium Meyenii, is a root vegetable cultivated high in the Andean Mountains. For 10,000 years it has been a valued addition to their diet..

This plant has been used traditionally:

• as an aphrodisiac for both men and women
• to encourage vitality, energy, stamina and endurance in athletes
• encourage mental clarity
  
• Nutritional support to encourage optimal body sytems eg, menstrual cycles and pre-conception preparation.

The Maca plant is prized for its roots, which contain both medicinal and nutritional properties. In it’s native South America, it has been used for thousands of years. In fact, it was a staple of Incan medicine, much like antibiotics are a staple of western medicine today. It is only recently however that the amount of variety of nutrients in the Maca root are becoming known. It is this recent discovery that is greatly increasing Maca demand around the world!

So what exactly is in Maca? Well, here are some of the body-needed “ingredients” in the Maca root: zinc, potassium, iron, more calcium than milk, and several B vitamins. For those who want a stronger immune system, it has plenty of vitamin C, and even protein for muscle health. Since it’s a root, fiber is aplenty, and it has essential fatty acids which aid in mental functioning.

But the benefits of Maca do not end there…it is also known to increase fertility and libido, both for men, and women! Now, this is not without saying there are no possible side effects…however, it has been used for hundreds of years, and since it is all natural, there have been no known side effects. But as always, consult a doctor before you start popping maca root in your system.

Maca also may contribute to regulating the proper hormone levels in people. So, for couples looking to conceive, it it may increase fertility levels in couples. Also it has a positive effect on the endocrine system, and therefore the immune system.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the Maca root is our nervous system and memory. The nutrients in Maca are very effective in increasing nervous system and brain activity. This is one reason that many Maca users are fans of this herb.

Last but not least, many athletes take Maca as a healthy alternative to steroids. Maca has the ability to increase muscular development and strength. Maca based pills or supplementation is becoming well known in the athletic and body building communities.

Some women choose eat Maca Powder as an alternative to taking artificial hormones. What makes Maca so effective is that rather than introducing hormones from outside (whether chemical or natural) Maca nutritionally supports the glands in the body to optimal function according to the individuals unique requirements.

For those of you overwhelmed with what Maca is able to do, this is exactly why it’s called a superfood! Not only does it have a wide array of physical health benefits, it helps mental health as well. This is why it’s not just Peruvians these days who are taking Maca. It is gaining large followings in the U.S. Europe, and Asia as well.

Although fresh Maca root may still be a challenge to find, it is generally easy to find Maca supplements. This is a welcome herbal supplement to anyone’s daily vitamin and dietary plan.

The beauty of Maca is that it is a whole food – unadulterated and pure just as nature intended food to be. With this in mind – when you buy your Maca – use the guidelines below to ensure you are getting the best quality product available.

Maca available in powder and capsules

Get your premium grade Guaranteed Organic Maca Powder or Capsules delivered straight to your door for much less

Click here to check our most current Maca prices

Maca Guidelines:

1. Non-irradiated
2. Guaranteed Organic
3. Careful temperature control during processing/drying means nutrient preservation, lighter colour & sweeter taste
4. Free of grain contamination (exclusive milling facility)
5. Organic farming methods
6. Processed-to-order (arrives fresh milled from Peru within weeks)
7. High protein content
8. Grown in specially suited soils at required altitude in traditional growing region.

Maca gives you the edge, vitality, energy, stamina and endurance

The power of Certified Organic Maca Powder

Maca, Lepidium Meyenii, is a root vegetable cultivated high in the Andean Mountains. For 10,000 years it has been a valued addition to their diet..

This plant has been used traditionally:

• as an aphrodisiac for both men and women
• to encourage vitality, energy, stamina and endurance in athletes
• encourage mental clarity
• Nutritional support to encourage optimal body sytems eg, menstrual cycles and pre-conception preparation.

Maca Root contains significant amounts of amino acids, complex carbohydrates, Vitamins B1, B2, C, E and minerals including calcium, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium and iron.

Maca is a whole food. It is adaptogenic meaning that it will work on the body according to needs, age and gender of the person taking it - allowing males and females of all ages to benefit from taking it regularly.

Some women choose eat Maca Powder as an alternative to taking artificial hormones. What makes Maca so effective is that rather than introducing hormones from outside (whether chemical or natural) Maca nutritionally supports the glands in the body to optimal function according to the individuals unique requirements.

The beauty of Maca is that it is a whole food - unadulterated and pure just as nature intended food to be. With this in mind - when you buy your Maca - use the guidelines below to ensure you are getting the best quality product available.

Maca available in powder and capsules

Get your premium grade Guaranteed Organic Maca Powder or Capsules delivered straight to your door for much less

Click here to check our most current Maca prices

Buy Maca Caps 120
Buy Maca Caps 240

Buy Maca Powder 200g
Buy Maca Powder 350g
Buy Maca Powder 500G

Maca Guidelines:

1. Non-irradiated
2. Guaranteed Organic
3. Careful temperature control during processing/drying means nutrient preservation, lighter colour & sweeter taste
4. Free of grain contamination (exclusive milling facility)
5. Organic farming methods
6. Processed-to-order (arrives fresh milled from Peru within weeks)
7. High protein content
8. Grown in specially suited soils at required altitude in traditional growing region.