The gut microbiome is the term used for the collection of all of the bacteria in our stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and colon. Despite popular belief, not all bacteria are bad. In fact, we have trillions of bacteria throughout our gut and the rest of our body that are beneficial and even crucial for both our physical and mental health. These bacteria are often referred to as “probiotics”; they are involved in digestion, immune function, sleep, energy production, hormone production, emotional regulation, mental stability, and more. THE IMPORTANCE OF... Read more →

We all feel regret and guilt when we throw away food. What’s worse is throwing away nutritious, healthy fruits and vegetables! Oh, the humanity! There is a mass destruction of fruits and veggies, and it must be stopped!... Okay, so throwing away good produce might not be as dramatic as that. But, we do have some hacks for keeping your beautiful F’s and V’s from going bad. Hack 1: Karate CHOP! So, maybe this hack has nothing to do with karate. (Sounded cool though, huh?) It does, however, have to... Read more →

People have spent centuries looking for the Fountain of Youth, hoping to stay young and prolong their lives. We now know that the real gold is in aging as well as we can by embracing a reasonably healthy lifestyle. We’re here to share the great news that there are some healthy habits you can adopt to help you live longer and better! A recent study conducted by researchers out of Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that your lifestyle choices do indeed make all the difference. The... Read more →

Humans have valued mushrooms as culinary delicacies and for their health benefits throughout history. Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and many other healthcare traditions have utilized medicinal mushrooms for millennia. In recent years, Western medicine has discovered medicinal mushrooms' nutraceutical value, as well. Research indicates that mushrooms have nutrients that offer a number of benefits, from specific nutrients (such as protein, key vitamins and numerous bioactive compounds) to properties that provide powerful antioxidants and fight stress while supporting the immune system. Read on to learn about the nutritive power of mushrooms...... Read more →

Magnesium is instrumental to many body functions and necessary for every biological organism, not just humans. Technically, it is an essential mineral nutrient, meaning it’s something the body needs, but it cannot make itself. That means it has to come from a dietary source like food or a supplement. This mineral plays a critical role in the brain, heart, and muscle health for humans. Here’s everything you need to know to make sure you can avoid magnesium deficiency: What Is Magnesium? Magnesium is one of several minerals in the body... Read more →

Not everyone enjoys eating meat but everybody needs protein. Whole proteins like beef, chicken, and fish, are among some of the best sources of protein available, they aren't for everyone. Just check out the amount of protein in a single serving of the following cooked meats and fish: 3 oz of chicken breast: 13 grams 3 oz of steak: 23 grams 3 oz of salmon: 21 grams All that protein is made up of varying combinations of molecules called amino acids, dubbed the "building blocks of life." Your body really... Read more →

Do you trust your gut? If you don't you better listen to your gut instincts and what it's trying to tell you. I'm sure this has happened to you that you had a feeling deep down inside that you should make one decision, or avoid another. While we may be listening to our guts, are we really paying attention to our gut health? Your gut can tell you a lot more about your overall health than you may realize. Here are 4 reasons why you should pay attention because your... Read more →

Parents around the country are always trying to make sure their children are eating a nutritious diet — that’s why it was so shocking when an eye-opening new study revealed their kid’s favorite seemingly-healthy drinks are loaded with added sugars and artificial sweeteners. Researchers analyzed 34 sweetened drinks and found that two-thirds contained no juice, but images of fruit appeared on 85% of the packages, according to a new report from the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. Packaging with pictures of fruit and other nutritional... Read more →

While just a decade ago it was tricky and costly to go vegan or vegetarian, it’s much easier today to embrace a healthy plant-based diet. Some people still hesitate to take the plunge for one reason – the myth that eating a plant-based diet is just too expensive. Don’t you need a lot of costly exotic ingredients? The answer is no! While investing in a healthy diet is a great idea for everyone, you don’t need to buy a lot of fancy foods to sustain this lifestyle. If you strip... Read more →

2017 is FAST approaching and we know you want to be the best you can be in 2017! Are you ready to take control of your health and start making changes for the better?!? 1} Just Do It! You may have heard the saying “SOMEDAY is not a day of the week!” Stop procrastinating and commit to taking a small step every single day towards your health goals. Not drinking enough water? Add a glass in the morning and again in the afternoon. Eating too much sugar? Cut it down... Read more →

November 13, 2011 - Byron Richards, CCN Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have proven that fish oil combined with a low fat diet can reduce the number of rapidly dividing prostate cancer cells. This is important because many men don't even know they have prostate cancer and others are trying to change their lifestyles and curtail the problem as part of medically supervised surveillance. This study is clear cut proof that fish oil is a potent anti-prostate cancer nutrient. The participants ate a 15% fat diet along with... Read more →

November 14, 2011 - Byron Richards, CCN New research has shown for the first time that omega-3 in fish oil (DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement./EPA Eicosapentanoic acid. Type of long chain essential fatty acid - Omega 3 oil. Works in concert with DHA. Must gotten through food sources such as deep cold water... Read more →

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently issued its first ever statement on triglyceride management that includes recommendations for Omega-3 EPA/DHA intake. Elevated triglyceride levels have long been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). According to the AHA more than 31% of the United States population has borderline high triglyceride levels. Furthermore, AHA’s 2006 statistical data estimates that 81,100,000 people in the United States have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease, claiming 831,272 lives in that same year. In conjunction with other important lifestyle changes, the AHA recommends 0.5 - 1g... Read more →

Are you stressed out? If you’re like most Americans, chances are the answer is, “Heck, yeah!” Unfortunately, stress is now just a way of life for too many of us. Whether it’s concerns over the uncertain economy, struggling to meet deadlines at work, handling family emergencies, dealing with relationship woes, or even tolerating daily traffic jams, there seems to be an unending parade of stressors in modern life. Since this is National Stress Awareness Month, now’s a good time to discuss the different aspects of stress, how it can help... Read more →

In the first large-scale study of its kind, researchers from the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan investigated the health effects of daily Omega-3 supplements in combination with a drug commonly prescribed for those at-risk for heart attacks, angina and other coronary events. Patients were all identified as having higher than average levels of cholesterol. They were divided into two groups: a main group that included nearly 15,000 participants with no prior history of coronary artery disease, and a secondary group with over 3,600 subjects with a prior... Read more →

In a study featured in Neurology, 1,613 subjects were examined between the ages of 45 and 70, testing the correlation between Omega-3 consumption and the preservation of cognitive abilities. Mental functioning was gauged on multiple measures by researchers (memory, psychomotor speed, higher-level information processing and overall cognition), and participants completed a food consumption questionnaire to record their eating patterns, especially as their diets related to intake of fatty fish. Consumption of long-chain polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish was positively associated with a reduced risk of mental impairment, both... Read more →

February is not just for lovers anymore. The American Heart Association (AHA) has officially dubbed February “American Heart Month”. So, what better time to start showing your heart more love than in February? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention claims that heart disease is the leading cause of deaths in the United States. Both the Mayo Clinic and the AHA suggest that consuming 2-3 (3.5 ounce) servings of omega-3 rich foods a week can help support a healthy heart. How do you know that you are providing your body... Read more →

Dyslexia appears to be a close cousin of attention deficient disorder and affects about 5 percent of Americans. Dyslexics often see letters backwards or turned sideways and have a tough time reading printed text. Just like those with ADD, people with dyslexia have a deficiency of long-chain Omega 3 fatty acids in their blood lipids. Supplementation with long-chain Omega 3 fatty acids should, therefore, reduce this problem. This thinking makes perfect sense because the retina in each of your eyes (which is responsible for the quality of the visual input... Read more →

A common question regarding pharmaceutical grade fish oil is: What can you expect when you begin taking high-dose Pharmaceutical grade fish oil if you're relatively healthy? You will notice that your mental abilities are enhanced and that your emotional state is on a more even keel. Taking doses of long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids increase your body's production of the two neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin). Dopamine spurs you to action allowing enhanced concentration by your brain. It allows you to concentrate on the task at hand and organize yourself more efficiently.... Read more →

Article From ScienceDaily (July 11, 2008) — In addition to helping protect us from heart disease and cancer, a balanced diet and regular exercise can also protect the brain and ward off mental disorders. "Food is like a pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain," said Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, a UCLA professor of neurosurgery and physiological science who has spent years studying the effects of food, exercise and sleep on the brain. "Diet, exercise and sleep have the potential to alter our brain health and mental function. This raises the exciting possibility... Read more →

What are Omega-3 fatty acids? Omega-3’s belong to a group of fatty acids known as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Because the body does not manufacture them, Omega-3's are classified as "essential fatty acids" (EFA’s), as it is essential they be obtained from food. There are three important Omega-3 fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are found in fish, while ALA is found only in plant foods such as flaxseed meal. The body can convert ALA into small amounts of EPA and... Read more →

Plasma Lipids Bhaskaran S, Santanam N, Penumetcha M, Parthasarathy S. Inhibition of atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-negative mice by sesame oil. J Med Food. 2006 Winter;9(4):487-90. Study Abstract Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA. Diet has profound effects on the development of atherosclerosis. Fatty acid composition, antioxidants, and other components such as lignans have major effects on the atherosclerotic process. Sesame oil has both mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid constituents in equal proportions. In addition, it also has high levels of numerous antioxidants... Read more →

Thanks in large part to the superior quality, purity and concentration of nutrients, Sealogix represents an exceptional value compared to other market brands. To demonstrate the overall value of our formula, we have provided the following comparison chart, which matches Sealogix against competing brands. To create a meaningful, apples-to-apples comparison, we calculated our chart based upon the two most prevalent nutrients in omega-3’s – the long-chain fatty acids EPA and DHA. The prices listed in the chart below demonstrate the costs associated with 1,000 mg of omega-3's (DHA/EPA).* You will... Read more →

There seems to be a lot of confusion out there as to the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. This article will break down the major sources of omega-3’s and give you the information you need to make educated choices. First, there are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids: DHA, EPA and ALA. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) are found in fish and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid ) is found in plants like flaxseed. When you choose an omega-3 source, we suggest that you select a healthy balance... Read more →

If you’re like most people, you are probably wondering, “What are essential fatty acids?” Or, “How could something with the word ‘fat’ in it be good for me?” The short answer is essential fatty acids (or EFA’s) are essential because our bodies alone cannot produce them – they must be obtained through our diet. EFA’s are long molecules that are used in the construction of the walls of our cells, known as the cell membranes. The cell membranes are critical for both nutritional processes and the excretion of toxic waste... Read more →

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, a lawsuit was filed in a San Francisco Superior Court, which alleged that several popular brands of fish oil supplements have illegally undisclosed and unnecessarily high levels of contamination from toxic PCB compounds. Widely regarded as cancer-causing agents, PCB’s were outlawed from manufacture in 1979. The lawsuit names eight manufacturers and retailers of fish and fish liver oils (as well as shark and shark liver oils) which tested positive for PCB contamination that exceeded the limits approved for human consumption under California’s Proposition 65. The... Read more →

In the first large-scale study of its kind, researchers from the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan investigated the health effects of daily Omega-3 supplements in combination with a drug commonly prescribed for those at-risk for heart attacks, angina and other coronary events. Patients were all identified as having higher than average levels of cholesterol. They were divided into two groups: a main group that included nearly 15,000 participants with no prior history of coronary artery disease, and a secondary group with over 3,600 subjects with a prior... Read more →

Article From The BBC News Feb 2, 2010 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8490937.stm Taking a daily fish oil capsule can stave off mental illness in those at highest risk, trial findings suggest. A three-month course of the supplement appeared to be as effective as drugs, cutting the rate of psychotic illness like schizophrenia by a quarter. The researchers believe it is the omega-3 in fish oil - already hailed for promoting healthy hearts - that has beneficial effects in the brain. A "natural" remedy would be welcomed, Archives of General Psychiatry says. "The... Read more →

We often get calls and emails from concerned dog and cat parents that their dog is licking uncontrollably or is losing hair all of a sudden or they are sick and no one can figure out why. The first thing I ask is if anything has changed inside or outside of their homes or if they are using any new products. Dogs and cats love to explore, taste, rub against and roll around in all sorts of things—many of which contain harmful toxins. Their sense of smell is thousands of... Read more →

A study at the University of Michigan confirms that fish oil consumption can reduce cellular inflammation. Researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, published a study demonstrating that increased fish oil consumption and decreased vegetable oil consumption curbed the body’s overproduction of prostanoids. Prostanoids are valuable chemicals, as they help regulate blood pressure and reduce allergic reactions. But when prostanoids are produced excessively, it leads to inflammation of organ and other bodily tissues. This inflammation can cause redness, pain and, in some cases, visible swelling. Many believe that cellular... Read more →

Yes, Dogs & Cats Benefit From Fish Oil! In research studies, fish oil has shown positive benefits in helping pets with disease. Fatty acids are among the most commonly used nutritional supplements used in treating dogs and cats. Fortunately, they have been used successfully long enough that most conventional veterinarians include their usage in the treatment of at least some diseases. Though some pet diets may include Omega-3 fatty acids, virtually none include satisfactory amounts of the most important Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Many pet foods contain primarily... Read more →