Eliminating Heart Disease Naturally Thru Nitric Oxide Therapy

Archive for General Health

Heart Health and Walnuts

Posted by Dan Hammer //

08/08/2019

Who would have thought there could be a connection between heart health and walnuts. Yet recent research shows that not only is there a strong connection between heart health and walnuts but that this connection also benefits the endothelium, which lines and regulates your cardiovascular system.

If you’ve been following my articles you know that I’m a firm believer in endothelial health and function for improved cardiovascular health. Now organizations like WebMD and Life Extension are highlighting the benefits of heart health and walnuts. Here are excerpts from recent publications from these two outstanding organizations.

What WebMD Says About Walnuts and Heart Health!

“Walnuts are the No. 1 nut for heart health, says a researcher who presented his findings Sunday at the American Chemical Society annual meeting. That’s because walnuts were found to have more antioxidants – and better-quality antioxidants – than other popular nuts tested, says Joe Vinson, PhD, a researcher at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.”

According to Dr. Vinson, “Twenty-eight grams of walnuts (an ounce) have more antioxidants than the sum of what the average person gets from fruits and vegetables.”

According to Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, “Studies show that walnuts improve cardiac risk factors and enhance blood flow.”

Click here to read the complete WebMD article entitled “Walnut May be Top Nut for Heart Health”

What Life Extension Says About Heart Health and Walnuts!

In the August issue of Life Extension, William Faloon discusses the health impact of walnuts in his editorial entitled “FDA Says Walnuts Are Illegal Drugs!” Specific to walnuts and heart health, William Faloon had this to say:

“The March 4, 1993, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine published the first clinical study showing significant reductions in dangerous LDL and improvement in the lipoprotein profile in response to moderate consumption of walnuts. Later studies revealed that walnuts improve endothelial function in ways that are independent of cholesterol reduction.

One study published by the American Heart Association journal Circulation on April 6, 2004, showed a 64% improvement in a measurement of endothelial function when walnuts were substituted for other fats in a Mediterranean diet.

As most Life Extension members are aware, the underlying cause of atherosclerosis is progressive endothelial dysfunction. Walnuts contain a variety of nutrients including arginine, polyphenols, and omega-3s that support the inner arterial lining and guard against abnormal platelet aggregation. These favorable biological effects explain why walnut consumption confers protection against coronary artery disease.

The US National Library of Medicine database contains no fewer than 35 peer-reviewed published papers supporting a claim that ingesting walnuts improves vascular health and may reduce heart attack risk.”

For the complete editorial by William Faloon from the August 2011 issue of Life Extension please click here.

Walnuts – An Ideal Snack!

Given the above information it makes sense to use walnuts as a heart healthy snack. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture an ounce of walnuts contains 185 calories, 4 grams of protein, nearly 2 grams of fiber, and 18 grams of “heart-healthy” fat.

The most popular snack in America is potato chips. According to the Fat Secret website one ounce of potato chips contains 155 calories, 1.86 grams of protein, 1.2 grams of fiber, and 10.6 grams of fat.

Comparing the two snacks, walnuts are going to give you twice as much protein, almost twice as much fiber, and healthy fats that benefit cardiovascular health. Plus the extra protein and fiber will help to hold your appetite over a longer period of time. This will result in better energy and less hunger going into your next meal.

I also want to thank Life Extension for confirming what I’ve been talking about for a very long period of time.

According to William Faloon of Life Extension, “the underlying cause of atherosclerosis is progressive endothelial dysfunction.”

Atherosclerosis is the development of plaque formations in the interior of the vascular system leading to a narrowing of the vascular pathway. This can reduce blood flow and increase the potential for blood clots to form. It’s one of the major contributing factors for cardiovascular disease.

Implementing a nutrition program that nourishes and supports a healthy endothelium is critically important to your overall health and wellness. Your nutritional program needs to increase your endothelium’s ability to properly produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.

As the saying goes “an apple a day will keep the doctor away”. Well, maybe “an ounce of walnuts a day will keep the cardiovascular surgeon away!” Don’t minimize the value of walnuts and heart health. They could help reduce your risk for the number one killer of men and women worldwide, which is cardiovascular disease.

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer

5 Real Health Benefits of Cherries

Posted by Dan Hammer //

08/01/2019

There is a summertime fruit that is both abundant and has real health benefits. That fruit is cherries. Especially Bing cherries from Michigan.

I’ve always enjoyed the taste of cherries. And when my daughter brought some home from the grocery store, I was reminded on how much I enjoy their taste.

So much that I’m now making them a daily part of my diet.

Because of this I decided to do some research on the health benefits of cherries. And while I wasn’t surprised, I was definitely pleased at how nutritious this fruit is.

I’ve been eating cherries each day as an afternoon snack.

Instead of reaching for a bag of potato chips I’m filling a cup with Bing cherries. Here is the overall nutritional value for one cup:

97 Calories

2 grams of Protein

25 grams of Carbohydrates

3 grams of Fiber

18% of my daily need for Vitamin C

10% of my daily need for Potassium

5% of my daily need for Copper

5% of my daily need for Manganese

And while this nutritional profile is good, what’s even better are the polyphenols and antioxidants that make the health benefits of cherries real. Read More →

Reduce Chronic Inflammation by Targeting NF-kB

Posted by Dan Hammer //

07/22/2019

One of the keys to preventing diseases is to reduce chronic inflammation. The healing process always involves some level of inflammation. And once the healing has been completed the inflammation goes away.

However, in today’s modern world there are foods and ingredients that are consumed daily that trigger chronic inflammation. This is a low-grade form of inflammation that continues to inflame cells and causes them to age prematurely.

This chronic inflammation also causes abnormal genetic responses that contribute to age-related disorders. In the last two years scientists have uncovered a key factor in chronic inflammation. It is a gene-regulating protein complex called:

Nuclear Factor kappa B or NF-kB

This NF-kB has been shown to be a primary initiator of inflammation. And inhibiting NF-kB can be used to reduce chronic inflammation. But before we talk about how to inhibit this gene-regulating protein, let’s look a list of age-related diseases that improve when NF-kB is kept in check:

Cancer Development
Heart Muscle Alterations
Poor Wound Healing
Arthritis
Asthma
Brain Cell Degradation
Insulin Resistance

A Brief Overview on Chronic Inflammation

To understand how to reduce chronic inflammation one needs to understand the inflammation process. Here is a brief overview: Read More →

Healthy Life Expectancy – Do You Want to Add 12 to 14 Years to Your Life?

Posted by Dan Hammer //

07/15/2019

Do you know what your healthy life expectancy is? Do you know you can actually estimate this?

Today I’m going to help you answer these two questions.

Research clearly shows there are 5 keys to your life expectancy. These 5 keys are listed below.

They have the potential to add 12 to 14 years to your life!

However, before you look at these 5 keys I’d like to encourage you to use an online tool for estimating the potential years you have left. It’s called the Healthy Life Expectancy Calculator. It was developed by the Goldenson Center at the University of Connecticut.

This calculator will take you less than 1 minute to complete, and will give you some valuable feedback on what you can do to increase your life expectancy.

Click Here for the Healthy Life Expectancy Calculator.

My Healthy Life Expectancy Results Using This Calculator

I used this tool to see what my life expectancy is. Here are my results: Read More →

6 Key Health Benefits of Blueberries

Posted by Dan Hammer //

07/08/2019

The health benefits of blueberries are numerous but for this article we are going to concentrate on just six of them.

Blueberries are native to North America. With approximately 30 different species, blueberries have become an important and plentiful tool for preventing free radical damage, one of the leading causes of aging and degenerative diseases.

Because of its high ORAC value and nutritional density, I use frozen blueberries as one of my ingredients in my morning protein shake.

Here is a brief overview of the health benefits of blueberries:

Improves heart health

Provides cancer protection

Helps prevent damage to collagen

Improves cognitive function

Protects against macular degeneration and cataracts

Improves elimination

That’s an impressive list of health benefits all designed to keep you young and healthy as you age.

Health Benefits of Blueberries

Because of the high antioxidant properties of blueberries they are quickly becoming the North American version of the Brazilian Acai berry. Researchers at Tufts University recently analyzed 60 different fruits and vegetables. Blueberries rated the highest in their capacity to prevent free radical damage.

Blueberries belong to the heath family that includes the cranberry and bilberry, so some of the health benefits of blueberries are also found in these fruits.

Heart Health

There is a great deal of talk about the protective benefits of wine for cardiovascular health. A recent study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry compared white wine, red wine and blueberry wine for their ability to deliver the cardio-protective benefits of anthocyanins, a powerful class of antioxidants. Using a moderate drink (about 4 ounces) as their testing sample, white wine delivered .47 mmol of this free radical absorbing antioxidant. Red wine delivered 2.04 mmol. And blueberry wine (made from high bush blueberries) delivered 2.42 mmol.

This would make sense since the darker the pigmentation of the fruit the greater its antioxidant capacity.

Cancer Protection

Blueberries seem to provide protection against both colon and ovarian cancer. In laboratory studies published by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the phenolic compounds extracted from blueberries were able to inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation. As well as induce apoptosis or programmed cell death.

The famous Nurses Health Study, which followed 66,940 women, revealed that those who have a diet rich in the flavoinoid kaempferol had a 40% reduction in the risk for ovarian cancer. Blueberries, non herbal tea, onions, curly kale, leeks, broccoli and spinach are all good sources of kaempferol.

Prevent Collagen Damage

Blueberries are ideal in helping to prevent damage to your collagen. Collagen is your body’s main protein making up 25 – 35% of your total protein content. It is the main component of fascia, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and skin. It strengthens blood vessels and is present in the eye.

The powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins help to neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues. Because the blue-red pigments of blueberries are rich in anthocyanins they help provide protection against cataracts, varicose veins, arteriosclerosis, premature aging of the skin, heart disease, and cancer.

Cognitive Function

Researchers have found that blueberries help to protect the brain of aging animals from oxidative stress. This significantly improves both their learning capacity and motor skills. Although animal studies do not always correlate with humans, at least you can share you blueberries with your favorite pet and one of you will remember were you left your keys.

Eye Health

A study of 110,000 men and women, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower the risk of macular degeneration by 36% when compared to those who consumed less than 1.5 servings of fruit per day. Bilberry, the British cousin to the blueberry, has long been shown to improve nighttime visual acuity.

Improves Elimination

The health benefits of blueberries also extend to elimination. Blueberries are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. The insoluble fiber will add bulk to the stools. The soluble fiber will absorb bile helping the body to naturally lower its cholesterol levels.

Blueberries contain tannins which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation. Blueberries also contain the same compounds found in cranberries. These compounds help to prevent or eliminate urinary tract infections by reducing the ability of E. coli to adhere to the mucosal lining of the urethra and bladder.

Conclusion for the Health Benefits of Blueberries

As you can see blueberries have tremendous health benefits. They are rich in vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene. They are an excellent source of potassium, manganese, and magnesium. They are high in fiber and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. And they provide a wide variation of protective antioxidants to help prevent degenerative diseases.

The only negative to blueberries is that they are a source of oxalates. Oxalates should not be eaten in high concentration as they can crystallize to cause kidney and gallbladder problems. However, with a high ORAC value, a small amount can be consumed on a daily basis to provide you with the antioxidants needed to protect you from free radical damage.

One final note regarding the anthocyanins found in blueberries. According to a study from the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, anthocyanins from berries are almost undetectable in canned foods, bread, cereals and baby foods because of how they are processed. This means that if you want to enjoy all the health benefits of blueberries, then fresh and frozen berries are best.

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer

5 Key Health Benefits of Bell Peppers

Posted by Dan Hammer //

07/01/2019

The health benefits of bell peppers have taken a back seat to other nutritionally dense foods. Yet when you examine the health benefits of bell peppers I think you’ll see how this fruit is an ideal companion to your food plate.

Yes, I labeled the bell pepper a fruit.

Most think of it as a vegetable but in reality it is a fruit. In fact, one of the health benefits of bell peppers is that they contain twice the amount of vitamin C found in an average orange. Which brings us to its first health benefit.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

As I’ve shared in other articles, inflammation is the root cause of almost all diseases. And eating foods that help protect you from inflammation is a key factor in preventing all types of diseases.

Vitamin C is a key nutrient in helping to prevent inflammation. In a study published in the American Journal of Nutrition they showed that men who consumed a diet that had a higher intake of vitamin C had lower levels of C-reactive protein. C-reactive protein is an inflammatory marker. The greater your levels of this marker, the greater the level of inflammation in your vascular system.

Inflammation of the vascular system leads to plaque formation, which leads to atherosclerosis. This then leads to an increased risk for strokes and heart attacks.

One of the other benefits of vitamin C is that it’s a plasminogen activator. This is a protein that your body naturally produces to dissolve clots inside the arteries.

This means that vitamin C does double duty in both protecting you from inflammation but also helping to protect you from unwanted blood clots.

And as I stated earlier, bell peppers contain twice the amount of vitamin C found in the average orange.

Cancer Prevention

It is estimated by the World Health Organization that 80% of all cancers are tied to food and lifestyle choices. The health benefits of bell peppers are tied to key nutritional components. Here’s a list of the nutritional facts for one cup of this fruit:

Nutrients	Amount	DV%
Vitamin C	190 mg	317.00%
Vitamin A	4666 IU	93.00%
Vitamin B6	0.4 mg	22.00%
Folate	68.5 mcg	17.00%
Vitamin E	2.4 mg	12.00%
Potassium	3.14 mg	9.00%
Vitamin K	7.3 mcg	9.00%
Manganese	0.2 mg	8.00%
Niacin	1.5 mg	7.00%
Dietary Fiber	3.1 g	13.00%

There are several studies that show how key nutrients in bells peppers also posses strong anti-cancer benefits. Especially as it applies to prostate, breast, and lung cancer.

Two of these nutrients are lycopene and vitamin E. In a Dutch study done on mice with human prostate cancer, those that were feed both lycopene and vitamin E experienced a 73% reduction on tumor growth. It’s important to note that when these two nutrients were give separately there was no effect of tumor size. This means that it is the synergistic combination of these two nutrients that are key to the potential health benefits of bell peppers.

Another key ingredient in bell peppers is called apigenin. For women who use hormone replacement therapy, there is an increased risk for breast cancer. Apigenin seams to help reduce this increased risk for breast cancer.

As it applies to lung cancer, there is a French study of 519,000 people that showed a strong correlation between vitamin B6 and lung cancer risk. For those with the highest plasma levels of vitamin B6 there was a 56% reduction in the risk for lung cancer.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Most of the medical community targets LDL cholesterol as bad for you. Unfortunately this is not the complete picture. What is bad for you is oxidized LDL cholesterol.

Oxidized LDL cholesterol is now clearly associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. And the reason why is oxidized LDL cholesterol leads to plaque formation, which leads to atherosclerosis.

Contained in bell peppers are quercetin and luteolin. In a Japanese study of ten flavonoids, they found that luteolin ranked first and quercetin ranked fourth in their ability to inhibit LDL oxidation.

Folate is also a key ingredient in reducing the risk for heart attacks. In the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study of 1,980 men, they found that those with the highest folate intake were 55% less likely to have a heart attack when compared to those with minimal intake of this nutrient.

Diabetes Protection

According to the journal Diabetes Care, those that consume less than 20 grams of dietary fiber per day had a significant increase in type 2 diabetes. As you can see from the table above one cup of bell peppers has 3.1 grams of dietary fiber. By itself this is not enough but when combined with other good dietary fiber sources, it can be a significant help in diabetes protection.

Especially when you factor in the antioxidants vitamin E and cryptoxanthin, which are both found in bell peppers. In a Finland study of 4,000 people those that had a diet rich in vitamin E had a 31% decreased risk for type 2 diabetes. And for those whose diet was rich in cryptoxanthin at was a 42% lower risk for this disease.

Eye Health

There are two key carotenoids that have been associated with protection from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. They are lutein and zeaxanthin. Both of these nutrients are found in bell pepper.

The British Journal of Nutrition published a study of 1,600 men and women. This study showed that those who had a higher intake of both lutein and zeaxanthin had a lower risk for cataracts.

And in a study done at the University of Sydney, when these two dietary nutrients were combined there was a 65% reduction in age-related macular degeneration.

Conclusion for the Health Benefits of Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are a key food that can be added to your food plate. They come in several colors from green to red to orange. They contain a power combination of vitamins, carotenoids, antioxidants, and fiber that can be a power tool in reducing your risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and inflammation. As well as helping to protect your eyes.

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer

Advanced Glycation End Products Cause You to AGE!

Posted by Dan Hammer //

06/15/2019

In the battle to slow the aging process you need to take aim at Advanced Glycation End products commonly referred to in the scientific community as AGEs. This article will help you understand how AGEs are formed , what impact they have on aging, and how they contribute to degenerative diseases. To start we need to focus on proteins and sugar.

Proteins are formed from amino acids and are essential for life. They serve two critical roles.

First, they provide structure for the body. One such structural protein is collagen, which accounts for approximately one third of your body’s total protein. It’s found in skin, muscles, organs and vascular structures. And it provides elasticity and cohesion to these structures.

Second, proteins provide function in the form of enzymes that enable all life-sustaining biochemical reactions to occur within your body.

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate. It provides energy for your cells.

When properly controlled, proteins and sugars can interact without causing any damage to the body.

What are Advanced Glycation End Products?

As you age your structural proteins are damaged by a process known as glycation. This process is an uncontrolled, non-enzymatic reaction between proteins and sugars to significantly alter the structure and function of proteins.

In this process a sugar molecule attaches itself to a protein molecule resulting in the formation of a non-functioning glycated protein called Advanced Glycation End products or AGEs. Research over the last 30 years has implicated AGEs in most of the diseases associated with aging like: Read More →

The Alkaline Water Debate – My Views

Posted by Dan Hammer //

05/22/2019

For a long time there has been a growing debate over the benefits of alkaline water. Recently I’ve had several of my clients ask me my opinion about using alkaline water to help improve their overall health.

My short answer to them is “No I’m not a fan of alkaline water as there are better ways to to improve your body’s pH levels.”

And my short answer usually ends in a longer discussion about this topic.

Now before we discuss this, I want everyone to know that I’m a big fan of an alkaline diet. Choosing foods that help you stay on the alkaline side of the pH scale is extremely important to your overall health. And I believe will lessen your risk for all forms of diseases.

I’ve written two extensive blog posts on this issue. Click on the titles to link to the articles:

The Acid Alkaline Balance – Part 1

The Acid Alkaline Balance – Part 2

But when is comes to alkaline water I do not agree that this is the best way to help your body stay on the alkaline side of the pH equation.

Alkaline Water – Natural Alkaline Spring Water versus Ionized Water

Normal tap water usually has a pH of 7. This is considered neutral. Less than 7 and it becomes acidic. Greater than 7 and it becomes alkaline.

Most bottled water that is marketed as alkaline water usually has a pH range between 8 and 10.

On average your blood’s pH is approximately 7.365, which is slightly alkaline.

There are two driving force for alkaline water:

To help improve your blood chemistry.
Most diseases cannot survive in an alkaline environment.

Which would make it seem like this type of water would be a good thing.

But here’s the problem.

The pH scale is not arithmetic but logarithmic. Logarithmic means that the values separating each unit are not of equal value along the scale but increases in proportion to their distance from a pH of 7.

For example, a pH reading of 8 is 10 times more alkaline than 7, but a pH of 9 is not 20 times more alkaline but 100 times more alkaline. If you’re catching on, then a pH reading of 10 is 1000 times more alkaline than a pH of 7.

Given this fact, what would seem like a small change in the acid alkaline balance and be no big deal is, in reality, a big deal to your body.

And here is the danger of machines that are used to create ionized water. People tend to go to the extremes.

If alkaline water at a pH of 8 is good for me, then why not at a pH of 10. Wouldn’t that be better for me.

And the answer is “NO!”

I have no problems with alkaline water that has a pH of 8 especially if this alkaline water is from natural sourcing that has key minerals in it.

In this case you’re only slightly alkaline and it can be a benefit, especially if you’re choosing foods that help your body maintain the alkaline side of the equation.

But here are the dangers of when the pH hits 10.

Alkaline Water – Dangers of pH 10

If you’re drinking water that has a pH of 10 then you’re drinking something that is 1000 times more alkaline. This creates two concerns.

Concern #1 – It can deactivate the activity of pepsin. Pepsin is one of the main digestive enzymes that you need to breakdown the proteins you eat. It also helps with nutrient absorption, protection against allergies, and helps to limit yeast overgrowth.

When low it can contribute to indigestion, GERD, acid reflux, heartburn, and potentially pancreatitis. Some of the symptoms associated with low levels of pepsin are abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and nutritional deficiencies in B12 and Iron.

Concern #2 – It may also interfere with the acidity of your stomach acids. This is especially true for older adults. Your stomach acids are key for helping you breakdown proteins. As well as killing off bacteria and pathogens to keep your body healthy.

The pH of your stomach acids can range from 1.5 to 3.5. On the pH scale this range is huge. If your stomach pH is at 1.5, then alkaline water at a pH of 10 would most likely not have much impact.

But if you are an older adult whose stomach pH is around 3.5, then consuming water with a pH of 10 has a significant impact in causing your stomach’s pH to increase. This increase then interferes with your stomach’s ability to digest your food properly. When this undigested food goes into your small intestine, you get less nutrient absorption.

Alkaline Water – Final Thoughts

Drinking slightly alkaline water can be a good way to hydrate your body and provide you with some health benefits. If you decide to do this, then choose mineral water that is naturally alkaline because it contains needed minerals.

You can also make your own alkaline water by adding lemon to your water.

And if you’re drinking alkaline water to help cleanse your blood, then I would suggest adding Liquid Chlorophyll to regular tap water. One tablespoon per 16 ounces is a good ratio. This is a natural way to improve your blood chemistry while at the same time hydrating your body with needed water.

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer

Are Dark Cola Drinks Bad For You?

Posted by Dan Hammer //

05/08/2019

It’s a simple question: Are Dark Cola Drinks Bad For You?

Depending on who you read you will get answers ranging from “No” to “Yes” to “Not in moderation!”

I’ll tell you upfront that I am not a fan of dark cola drinks. I personally believe that all dark cola drinks are a contributing factor to the health crisis in America. A health crisis that has seen a significant increase in diabetes and overweight/obesity issues.

And the reason for my belief has to do with the ingredients found in dark cola drinks.

As you can see by the image for this article I’m going to use a can of Coke to represent dark cola drinks. Here is the list as they appear on the can:

Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Caramel Color
Phosphoric Acid
Natural Flavors
Caffeine

Ingredients are listed in the order of greatest volume or greatest percentage of that ingredient in relationship to the overall product. Water is a good thing. Since it’s listed first that means it is in greatest volume. We’ll talk about water and its importance at the end of this article. For now, let’s focus on the next ingredient.

High Fructose Corn Syrup in Dark Cola Drinks

The process for making high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) out of corn was developed in the 1970s. It is a complicated chemical and enzymatic process that converts corn starch into HFCS.

HFCS has a final concentration of about 55% fructose and 45% glucose with the exact same sweetness and taste as sucrose.

Since consumers see the word “Fructose” on the dark cola can they associate it with fruit and assume that it’s healthier than sugar.

Dr. Meira Field and a team of investigators from the USDA decided to find out if this assumption was true. They fed rats a high amount of sucrose, which is composed of glucose and fructose. These rats developed multiple health problems especially when they were deficient in certain nutrients such as copper.

The big question was whether the health problems were caused by the glucose component or the fructose component.

They repeated their study with two new groups of rats. One group received high amounts of glucose and the other group received high amounts of fructose. The glucose group was unaffected.

The fructose group had severe, life threatening results!

The male rats developed anemia, high cholesterol and heart hypertrophy. Additionally, the male rats had delayed testicular development. The female rats were not as severely affected, but they were unable to produce live young. From this research, Dr. Field made the following statement:

“The medical profession thinks fructose is better for diabetics than sugar, but every cell in the body can metabolize glucose. However, all fructose must be metabolized in the liver. The livers of the rats on the high fructose diet looked like the livers of alcoholics, plugged with fat and cirrhotic.”

One additional note on the High Fructose Corn Syrup in dark cola drinks. As you can see by the nutrition facts there are 39 grams of sugar per 12 ounces of Coke. One teaspoon of sugar is equal to 4 grams. This means that there are almost 10 teaspoons of sugar per a 12 ounce can of Coke.

Would you knowingly put 10 teaspoons of sugar in anything that you eat or drink?

Caramel Color in Dark Cola Drinks

The process for making caramel color is pretty straight forward. It is obtained by heating sugar until a brown color and characteristic flavor develops. Sounds pretty safe.

However, according the the Center for Science in the Public Interest, caramel color is a potential carcinogen. This ingredient is actually regulated in the State of California. California does not allow more than 4 micrograms of this ingredient to be included in any product sold in their state.

Dark cola drinks have less then 4 mcg per serving. But if you’re drinking more than one serving per day, then you increase the cancer risk tied to this ingredient.

Phosphoric Acid in Dark Cola Drinks

This ingredient is used because it creates an acidic medium which enhances the absorption of carbon dioxide to give your dark cola drink more fizz. Fizz in your cola drink might be nice but what affect does phosphoric acid have on your body.

To start we need to look at the pH level of Coke caused by the phosphoric acid.

Coca-Cola is considered a “Super Acidifying Food” with a pH of 2.53

To understand this we need talk about pH. The pH scale measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance and ranges from 0 to 14:

0 is complete acid
0 to 6.99 is acidic
7 is neutral or the perfect balance between acid and alkaline
7.01 to 13.99 is alkaline
14 is complete alkaline

The lower on the scale below 7 the more acidic something is and the higher on the scale above 7 the more alkaline something is.

The pH scale is not arithmetical but logarithmic.

Logarithmic means that the values separating each unit are not of equal value along the scale but increases in proportion to their distance from a pH of 7.

For example, a pH reading of 6 is 10 times more acidic than 7, but a pH of 5 is not 20 times more acidic but 100 times more acidic.

If you’re catching on, then a pH reading of 4 is 1000 times more acidic than a pH of 7.

Given this fact, what would seem like a small change in pH and be no big deal is, in reality, a big deal to your body.

Although some organs and organ fluids (like the gastric region) have a higher or lower pH than what is normal for the body, your body functions best when the pH of the internal biochemical environment (blood, lymph and intracellular fluids) is between 7.365 and 7.390.

If you understand the pH scale above, then you can see that the body likes to keep itself slightly alkaline and in a very narrow range. Anything outside this range causes stress on the body. The farther outside this range, then the stress on the body goes up exponentially.

Since Coke has a pH of 2.53 it is almost 100,000 times more acidic than a pH of 7.

This has a huge impact on your system. Your body will use its alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium to neutralize the acid to return your internal biochemical environment back to normal.

Compounding this acidic problem, your body also maintains a balanced concentration of phosphorus, calcium, and potassium in the bloodstream. This provides the right combination for building new bones and maintaining old ones. The shock of incoming phosphorus with zero calcium causes the calcium levels in the blood to decline. This triggers your body to dissolve calcium from the bones to restore this balance.

This reaction, continued over time, can be a contributing factor for osteoporosis.

Natural Flavors in Dark Cola Drinks

Technically, natural flavors are chemicals or a set of chemicals extracted from a natural substance, usually a plant or animal, without any chemical modifications. Cola companies are not required to disclose what those chemicals are or the procedure that they use to create the “Natural Flavors.”

Caffeine in Dark Cola Drinks

This ingredient has the ability to stimulate mental alertness, overcome fatigue, and enhance endurance. Sounds great!

But, it’s an addictive chemical that comes with a cost to your body.

As a stimulant it can be accompanied by constriction of the cerebral arteries, rapid heartbeat, and high blood pressure. Caffeine also causes the release of adrenaline which increases blood sugar. The pancreas reacts by secreting insulin to stabilize your blood sugar by driving the sugar into the cells for oxidation and energy production. However, excess blood sugar in the cells will be stored as fat.

People who consistently consume cola drinks high in sugar with caffeine constantly create an unbalanced cycling process. This puts undue stress on both the adrenal glands and the pancreas. Over time this has an impact on their ability to function properly resulting in arthritis and diabetes.

Water in Dark Cola Drinks

This is the number one ingredient in all cola drinks. Thus, you might think that this is a good thing.

Given the consumption of soda in the United States, it’s interesting that experts estimate that 75% of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. WHY?

Because most of the contents of a dark cola drink must be processed by the liver! All chemicals, artificial sweeteners, and most sugars especially fructose need to be metabolized by the liver. Most of the water in the dark cola drink goes to help the liver detoxify the body. This means that very little of the water actually ends up in the cells to help them function properly.

GMOs in Dark Cola Drinks

For the first time in looking at the ingredient list for Coke I noticed that they disclose the use of GMO for sourcing their ingredients. Most likely the corn used for the creation of High Fructose Corn Syrup.

There is a big debate on the use of GMO sources and how they effect the health of people. This by itself is a long topic of discussion. If you want to know more about the use of GMO in Coke, then please click here for a statement by the company regarding its use.

Now, I’m not saying that the cola industry is the primary cause of all health issues.

What I am saying is that many of the ingredients in dark cola drinks can be a contributing factor to a wide range of health concerns.

I find it interesting that as soda consumption has increased, along with an increase in processed foods that contain many of the same ingredients, there has been a correlating increase in obesity and metabolic health issues.

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Posted by Dan Hammer //

04/22/2019

Today we’re going to focus on the health benefits of olive oil. Specifically extra virgin olive oil. Not only is it a key component of the Mediterranean diet, it’s also recognized as a Biblical food. Here’s the Scriptural reference.

“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.” Deuteronomy 8:7-8

Now what is key to our discussion on the health benefits of olive oil is that the version you want to consume is unrefined extra virgin olive oil. Back in Old Testament times of the Bible they did not have today’s manufacturing processes that can alter the olive oil by stripping it of the key nutrients you need.

These key nutrients are called polypenols. Here are the 3 key ones that researchers have identified in having the greatest health benefits:

Oleuropein
Tyrosol
Hydroxytyrosol

And new research in this area is showing that the polyphenol hydroxytyrosol makes up about 50% of the total polyphenol content of extra virgin olive oil.

In this article we’re going to focus on three main areas:

Cardiovascular Health
Alzheimer’s Disease
Bone Health

Health Benefits of Olive Oil – Cardiovascular Health

The number one killer of men and women worldwide is still heart disease. Anything that you can do to improve your cardiovascular health helps to lower your risk for heart disease.

In 2017 the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study to focused on the polyphenol hydroxytyrosol found in extra virgin olive oil.

There were 1851 participants. Both men and women. And the average age was 67. Additionally, they had to have had either type II diabetes or at least three or more cardiovascular risk factors like:

Smoking

Hypertension

Dyslipidemia

Overweight/Obesity

Family History of Premature Cardiovascular Disease

These participants were put into one of three groups:

Group 1 – Consumed a traditional Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil
Group 2 – Consumed a traditional Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts
Group 3 – Consumed a low-fat diet and acted as the control group

The group that had the best outcome, as it relates to lowering the risk for cardiovascular disease, was Group 1 who consumed a traditional Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil. Here were their results:

56% Reduced Risk of a cardiovascular event, which included heart attack, stroke, or death from a cardiovascular cause.

On average, 9.5 years longer life after the age of 65!

Now some would say that their diet made the difference. And I’m sure the Mediterranean diet was helpful. But the difference between adding nuts versus adding extra virgin olive oil was overwhelming:

56% Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Event and 9.5 Years Longer Life Span!

Now let’s look at the health benefits of olive oil as it applies to cognitive function.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil – Alzheimer’s Disease

The main cognitive health concern that gets most of the attention is Alzheimer’s Disease. Researchers have identified three main biomarkers associated with this disease. They are:

Beta-amyloid, which contribute to myloid plaque that interferes with cognitive function.
Tau Proteins, which also contributes to myloid plaque formation that interfere with cognitive function.
Synaptophysin, which is a protein marker for synaptic integrity helping to maintain cognitive function.

A Temple University study on mice, that were bred to be genetically prone to neurodegenerative changes similar to Alzheimer’s disease, show the potential for extra virgin olive oil to help protect brain health.

One group of mice were fed a standard diet. The other group were fed a standard diet plus extra virgin olive oil. After six months on their respective diets the following results were found:

The mice that consumed the extra virgin olive oil had a significant decrease in the destructive biomarkers of beta-amyloid and tau proteins. These same mice also had a significant increase in the beneficial biomarker called synaptophysin.

Not only did the extra virgin olive oil help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease issues, but it helped to initiate the brain cell’s ability to clear itself of cellular debris, which can interfere with normal brain function.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil – Bone Health

Hip fracture, especially in older adults, can be a significant health concern. In meta-analysis of several studies using just the Mediterranean diet, there was a 21% reduced risk of hip fractures.

This lead to a new study that tested the use of the Mediterranean diet with extra virgin olive oil. The researchers wanted to see if olive oil would be even more effective in bone health. The results of this study showed an additional 51% lower risk of hip fracture.

Now here is the key to enjoying the health benefits of olive oil as it applies to cardiovascular health, Alzheimer’s disease, and bone health:

It Must Be Unrefined Extra Virgin Olive Oil!

Unfortunately, here in the United States it’s estimated that 80% of the extra virgin olive oil sold does not meet the legal standards to be called “extra virgin.”

This means you need to be proactive in making sure that the product you use is not mass produced and refined or altered with other pro-inflammatory oils like corn, safflower, and sunflower.

It might cost you more to buy, but the health benefits are worth the investment.

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer