“Death begins in the colon” ~ Bacteriologist Ilya Mechnikov. Probiotics are the good bacteria that serve the function of ensuring that our colon stays healthy, and are one of the most powerful additions to your diet for superior health. Bacteria are the first line of defense of the immune system. A proper balance of bacteria in the intestinal tract is vital for maintaining good health. In a healthy colon there are between 100 billion and 100 trillion beneficial bacteria per milliliter and these consume the harmful bacteria.

We often hear that we need to “soak our nuts”, as well as seeds and grains, before consuming. But, really, how important is it? And, how exactly do we do it? Nature has an ingenious mechanism to protect nuts, grains and seeds, so they survive until the best growing conditions are present. Nature’s own defense mechanism provides enzyme inhibitors and toxic substances on the nuts, seeds and grains, including phytates, polyphenols, and goitrogens.

“Death begins in the colon” ~ Bernard Jensen. As dramatic as that sounds, there is definite truth to the idea that the health of your entire body is dependent on the health of your digestive system. Your digestive system is where your body obtains its energy for food, absorbs essential nutrients, and eliminates waste products that would otherwise be toxic to the body. There is a direct correlation between the food you eat, and your digestive health.

We all know that beautifully colored fruits and vegetables are important. But many people aren’t exactly sure which colors are related to which benefits. Here is a handy list you can refer to when you are considering the many health benefits you will get from eating the rainbow!

Cinnamon should definitely be included in the “superfood” category for many reasons. Did you know that cinnamon has super-antioxidant power, and is several hundred times more potent than any fruit or vegetable? Cinnamon contains: B-complex vitamins, as well as chromium, iron, zinc, and calcium, and in studies it has been shown to help prevent brain tissue damage that leads to Alzheimer’s. The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reported that cinnamaldehyde and epicatechin, both found in cinnamon, inhibit the clustering of a protein called tau, which forms lesions in the brain that lead to Alzheimer’s.

Artichokes –  contain folate, vitamin-C, vitamin K. Are also a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. Arugula – beta carotene, vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, B2, B5, iron, copper, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, omega 3, omega 6. Asparagus – diuretic, laxative, pre-biotic and thus feeds the good bacteria in the gut, promotes heart health, vitamin C, beta carotene, folic acid, B1, B2, B3, fiber, anti-cancer, great for cleansing the kidneys.

I get asked this question all the time: do I follow food combining “rules” and are they important? It’s a popular topic, but what really works and what takes food combining a little too far are two different things. There are some “experts” out there who tell people that their digestive issues are due to poor food combining. More often than not, the digestion is compromised due to limited release of HCL, enzymes, bile, poor gut flora, gut inflammation and other issues that are regularly misdiagnosed.

Balanced body chemistry is extremely important in order to maintain health, which is one reason consuming a diet high in alkaline foods is important. Acidosis, or over-acidity in the body tissues is one of the primary factors underlying many diseases. Staying alkaline depends on the efficient functioning of our body’s three natural buffering systems, and so we want to do all that we can to support the proper functioning of those systems.

I’ve been drinking quite a bit of turmeric tea and juice lately. Turmeric is often talked about these days, but few people truly know the amazing benefits of this inexpensive amazing spice. To date, over 5,000 medical studies have found over 600 potential health benefits of turmeric! It’s no wonder it has been used for over 6,000 years. The major benefits of turmeric come from a polyphenol known as curcumin.

Pineapples are one of the most versatile and nutrient rich fruits we can consume. Most of use stick to eating the sweet, fleshy, nutrient dense part of the pineapple. But did you know that most of the powerful enzyme Bromelain exists mostly in the core and that you can make an incredibly healing tea out of the skin and core combined? Bromelain is important because it helps to improve protein digestion, reduce inflammation and treat indigestion.

There are so many herbal teas available to us that can truly add amazing healing to our lives. Many people are hesitant to try new herbal teas, and limit themselves to the more common black, green or white teas, and their varieties like chai, earl grey, matcha and perhaps a few common herbal teas like chamomile and yerba mate. But there is a veritable medicine chest of teas available to us in nature, and I would love to share those with you!

In our Health Mastery Institute’s Health Coaching Certification Program, we spend more than two full courses on the liver, its functions, its importance to a lifetime of health, its disease process and its cleansing process. The liver is critically important for your overall quality of life. Every day we do things that are causing harm to our livers and in many cases we don’t realize it.

The foundation of any health or healing program begins with a full cleansing of the intestinal tract, because it experiences the most abuse on a daily basis, and it impacts every system in the body. The colon is the main channel of elimination in the body. The vast majority of elimination of toxic waste – including large amounts of E. coli bacteria and parasite larvae – occurs through the digestive tract. If that waste is un-eliminated or only partially eliminated, the effects on the body are profound.

Wheatgrass Juice is one of the most powerful sources of chlorophyll, a blood builder. Wheatgrass juice contains up to 70% chlorophyll, which closely resembles that of the hemin molecule, the pigment which combines with protein to form hemoglobin. Wheatgrass juice contains super-oxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that attacks free radicals in the body, and helps slow down the aging process.

One of the most frequent questions I get is “What is the difference between juicing and blending?” Some people are uncertain if these methods are the same, or if one is different from the other. Juicing and blending are actually completely different and I believe both can have a role in a living foods diet. However, in terms of nutrient power and efficiency, juices win hands down.