Author: Vivadeo

What is Maca Root you may ask? Maca Root is in the cruciferous family of plants. It’s a vegetable in the same classification as broccoli and spinach. Maca is native to the Peruvian Andes Mountains. Maca has a rather fascinating history. During the Incan empire, soldiers would consume massive amounts of maca before entering battle. The reason being that maca made them stronger and increased their stamina. Another interesting tidbit about maca root is that no other crop in the world is grown at higher altitude. It grows at an astounding 9,000 to 10,000 feet above ground. -Information from Dr. Michael VanDerschelden.

Maca Root has some of the most awesome health benefits you’ll likely find in any one food source on the planet. They include:

1. Increases Sex Drive and Improves Fertility

Maca has long been used as a libido enhancing food. One study found that sexual desire was increased after 6 weeks of consumption. Maca’s properties can also help with not only sex drive, but infertility and impotency as well. Maca helps increase the number and the adequacy of sperm, increasing the likelihood of conception.

2. Helps Prevent Disease (Adaptogenic Food)

Maca Root is an adaptogen. Adaptogens are foods that help the body resist contracting diseases. Maca also acts as a hormone regulator for your body by working to neutralize them as well as restoring your adrenal glands and thyroids and helping to relieve your stress hormones.

3. Helps with Female Menstrual Ailments

Maca has been used by women to help with regulating mood and as well as those who experience hot flashes during menstruation. Maca has been used by women for mood swings, anxiety, depression, and cramping.

4. May Improve Strength and Increase Stamina

Maca is a popular product with athletes as it is thought to boost energy and stamina, thereby improving athletic performance. While there are no studies that point to improved strength and muscle growth, one study on cyclists did show improved times, though the improvement was minor, it was still an improvement nonetheless.

There is no research to support Maca being safe to take during pregnancy, so it should be avoided during pregnancy. Maca should also be avoided by those with high blood pressure.

Goji Berries are known for and have been used for their anti-aging or longevity properties. In the Ningxia Hui region of Northern China, where goji berries are grown, there are 16 times as many centenarians — people over 100 years old — as the rest of the country combined. This small red berry, traditionally regarded as the longevity fruit, is a key ingredient in their diet. Read more here.

Goji Berries can come in a variety of colors including deep red, dark orange, and pale yellow. They have the appearance of dried raisins, except larger in size. Goji Berries are and adaptogenic berry, meaning they regulate your hormones and act on your adrenals, endocrine system, and thyroid. Adaptogens also help the body resist diseases and adjust or handle stress properly. Goji berries help reduce stress hormones, like cortisol. Stress is one of the main causes of health problems for humans today. When the body is unable to adapt to stress well, poor health follows. Handling stress is a huge factor in the overall health of persons.

Goji berries are the only known food to naturally produce within your body HGH (Human Growth Hormone). Goji’s are an ideal way for vegetarians to get their necessary protein as goji berries are a complete source of protein and include 21 trace minerals.

When purchasing goji berries you want to find a deep, dark, and rich red color. They should also be 100% organic, raw, and the more juicy or moist the better. Dry goji berries have lost a lot of nutrients. You can enjoy goji berries as an ideal snack. -Information from Dr. Michael VanDerschelden.

• Here are several benefits of goji berries:
• Normalize your hormones, adrenals, endocrine system, and thyroid
• Helps lower your cortisol and stress hormones
• Increases longevity and stamina
• Increases sexual energy
• Only food to increase Human Growth Hormone, which boosts testosterone and increases strength
• Complete source of protein
• 21 trace minerals
• Improves vision through high Zeaxanthin and Lutein content

-Information from Dr. Michael VanDerschelden.

Have you heard about the scientific study showing that walnuts actually fight cancer?

From Dr. Axe:

7 Health Benefits of Walnuts

• 1. Help Fight Depression
• 2. Improve Brain Health and Preserve Memory
• 3. Improve Heart Health
• 4. Can Help Prevent Cancer (Some research has shown walnuts are part of a diet that acts like a natural cancer treatment. In 2013, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center investigated whether a standard mouse diet supplemented with walnuts reduced the establishment and growth of human prostate cancer cells. They found that the walnut-enriched diet reduced the number of tumors and the growth significantly and that the final average tumor size in the walnut-diet animals was roughly one-fourth the average size of the prostate tumors in the mice that ate the control diet!)
• 5. Make a Filling Snack and Support Weight Loss
• 6. Improve Reproductive Health and Aid in Growth and Development
• 7. Great Way to Increase Children’s Omega-3s (natural remedy for ADHD)

Ever notice that a walnut looks just like the human brain? According to ancient wisdom, this is more than just a coincidence. Considering one of the biggest benefits of walnuts nutrition is the ability to support your most important organ — the brain — walnuts have now been scientifically proven to be a true “brain food” and a leader among all nuts.

Walnuts can help improve your mood considering they contain one of the highest amounts of omega-3 fats of any nut. In addition to the remarkable things that omega-3 foods can do for your mind, they’re also known to support heart health and fight heart disease by lowering triglyceride levels and reducing dangerous plaque formation in the arteries.

https://draxe.com/walnuts-nutrition/

Beets are making a comeback on the health food scene (and for good reason). Beets are chock-full of essential vitamins and minerals making them a valuable asset to any health diet regimen.

Few health foods can match the versatility of Beets as they can be cooked, eaten raw, and used in a variety of recipes. Also, PureBeets can be added into muffins, brownies, or your favorite smoothie.

When it comes to health benefits, not many foods can match Beets. If you’re not eating beets, here are 6 reasons you should be:

1. Beets Lower Blood Pressure

Recent studies have shown that consuming beets regularly lead to lower blood pressure. One reason is because beets possess naturally occuring nitrates, which are changed into nitric oxide. Nitric Oxide dilates or opens up blood vessels allowing blood to flow more effectively throughout your body, thereby lowering blood pressure.

2. Beets Detoxify the Liver and Blood

PureBeets have a compound called glutathiones which helps detoxify the liver and blood of heavy metals and toxins. Beets also help detoxify the body because they contain methionine and glycine betaine that prevent the build up of fatty acids.

3. Beets May Help Lower the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke.

Beetroot contains soluble fibers, flavanoids and betacyanin. Betacyanin, in addition to giving beets their purple-red color, is a potent antioxidant. It decreases the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and stop this dangerous cholesterol from clogging up artery walls.

4. Increases Stamina

Do you want to make your next workout a little less strenuous? Well then you may want to drink a glass of PureBeets mixed with water before your next workout. This is because Beets contain nitrates. Nitrates are converted into Nitric Oxide which expands blood vessels in the body. In addition to the benefit of lowering blood pressure, dilated blood vessels also allows blood to flow more easily to all the muscles in the body, giving the body more oxygen and stamina during workouts.

5. Helps Fight Inflammation

PureBeets contain compounds like betaine that protectes enzymes and cells from stress, and lowers inflammation. Betaines are produced in the body from Choline which comes from Vitamin B. Anti-inflammatory compounds in beets also help stop the activity of cyclo-oxygenase enzymes, which the body uses to set off an inflammatory reaction. Also, the nutrient choline found in beets lowers frequent inflammation.

6. Helps Prevent Cancer

Beets have phytonutrients like betalains that can help ward off cancer. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of these phytonutrients help fight cancer. The vitamins and trace minerals in beets are noteworthy disease fighting properties. Studies have shown that beets can help fight tumors and leukemia.

Ashwagandha is not the most well known superfood, but as you’re about to find out…It should be. Ashwagandha is one of the healthiest adaptogenic herbs in the world. Adaptogenic herbs relieve stress, increase stamina, make the body resilient to disease and can help you think clearly.

Traditionally known in India as “Strength of the Stallion” for its immune boosting abilities after a sickness and “Indian Ginseng” for it’s propensity to reduce stress and bolster stamina.

Check out these awesome Health Benefits of Ashwagandha:

1. May Be Good For Brain Health

Ashwagandha helps to fight off free radicals. It does this because of its antioxidant properties. Ashwagandha may also help improve memory, most likely as a result of reducing levels of oxidative stress.

2. Helps Improve Mood

Ashwagandha can help fight stress, anxiety, and depression. One study found that its effects were similar to those of the drugs lorazepam and imipramine. Additional findings in the study included improved focus and reduced fatigue.

3. Can Help Prevent and Treat Cancer

There have been some studies that have shown that ashwagandha has a potent anti-tumor effect. Ashwagandha extract has been shown to help stop the spreading of cancer cells including lung, stomach, colon, and breast cancers. This is due to ashwagandha’s ability to boost the immune system as well as its antioxidant content. Specifically, ashwagandha boosts the immune system through the increased production of disease preventative white blood cells. It also inhibits blood vessels from feeding cancerous tumors. In addition, patients suffering from cancer can have their immune systems suppressed. Supplementing with ashwagandha can halt this effect. During chemotherapy, white blood cells can be reduced, leaving patients vulnerable to infections.

4. Increases Endurance

Studies have shown that ashwagandha can have an impact on endurance. During physical activity, ashwagandha can lessen bodily pain as well as improve brain function. Ashwagandha is able to reduce stress hormones. This calming effect leads to increases in motivation, focus, and endurance.

Recommended Usage:

• 500mg once or twice daily

***WARNING**** It’s best to avoid Ashwagandha during pregnancy, or at least keep the daily dosage under a half teaspoon.

What is spirulina? Spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria. It gets its blue color from Phycocyanin and its green color from Chlorophyll. It is of note that spirulina was one of the earliest life forms and It remains at the very bottom of the food chain. Interestingly, they do not eat anything in order to obtain their energy, but rather they get all their energy from photosynthesis by converting the sunlight they receive into food sources. Spirulina has numerous health benefits. It contains: polysaccharides, antioxidants, protein, chlorophyll, vitamins/minerals, nucleic acids, and essential fatty acids. Now lets go into specific detail about the awesome benefits of this awesome food.

1. Protein Content

Spiruina has an astounding 65-71% protein composition. Contrast that with protein from animal products, which is composed of 18-30% protein. Fun fact: In Mexico City, millions of people consumed spirulina as their primary source of protein for 5,000 years and they flourished. Read more about spirulina’s history with Mexico here. Another huge bonus of eating spirulina as a protein source is you will avoid eating animals that are fed with pesticides, hormones, herbicides, genetic modification, and antibiotics. This leads to meat that is infected with pathogens like salmonella and E.coli. In order to kill these harmful pathogens, you have to cook the meat, which wipes out 50% of the protein according to the Max Planck Institute. So you are ultimately reduced to about 9-15% bio-available protein content. Spirulina also has 4X more absorbance than protein from beef.

2. Spirulina is a Pure Source of Food

A lot of food these days has issues with heavy metals, mercury, radiation, artifical chemicals, radiographic materials, and pesticides. Spirulina avoids these because it is at the bottom of the food chain, therefore it is not consuming higher species, which could contaminate it with toxins.

3. Helps Your Body Make New Blood

Spirulina has chlorophyll which is an excellent blood builder, as well as iron. It also has the blue pigment Phycocyanin. Phycocyanin has the ability to grow stem cells in the bone marrow which produce new red and white blood cells. This process is called hematopoiesis.

4. Benefits Your Immune System

The causal effect of producing more bloods cells is an improved immune system. Spirulina increases the manufacturing of T-fighter cells, cancer killing cells, cytokines and antibodies, macrophages, interleukins and interferons, bone marrow stem cells. These are immune system cells that are built up, circulated, and stored in the body. They are stored in bodily organs like adenoids, tonsils, thymus gland, appendix, and liver. This naturally leads to an increased army of immune cells ready to fight off or kill any invading pathogens. Interestingly, studies have shown that people who have had appendectomies have more allergies and a more difficult time combating infections and it might be because they have lost immune system cells that were being stored in their appendix.

5. Increases Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)

Spirulina is the second highest source of GLA behind only breast milk. GLA is vital for the maturation of your nervous system because it gives it proper nutrition and development as you age. Spirulina is an ideal food for babies and young children as it helps the functioning and proper maturation of their nervous systems. GLA is also a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory. It can block the creation of inflammatory prostate glands and this can help reduce arthritis because they decrease your body’s inflammatory reaction. It also is good for hair and skin health. Lastly, It decreases allergies by reducing a substance know as IGE or in other words it lowers the histamine response to stress that leads to allergies.

What to Look For When Buying Spirulina

• You can buy it in powder or tablet form. Tablets can sometimes be formulated by binding up a glue-like substance known as tableting agents, which you want to avoid.
• Do not eat any spirulina that smells rancid or sour. Refrigerate after opening to prevent spoilage.
• The powder goes well in salads, smoothies, and juices.
• To obtain most of spirulina’s health benefits, eat 11-20 grams per day.

-Information from Dr. Michael VanDerschelden

• Be careful when buying Spirulina. It is important to eat Spirulina that is from a pure source. Poor quality Spirulina can be contaminated which causes all sorts of health problems. You want to be sure to avoid Spirulina from places like China and India.

Bee pollen contains nearly all the nutrients necessary for humans. It has an incredible nutrition profile. It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients as well as amino acids and protein. In an astonishing fact, bee pollen contains more protein than any animal on earth. And if that wasn’t amazing enough, it also has more amino acids than eggs, beef, and cheese.

Bee pollen can be sprinkled on coffee or your favorite salad or any other creative way you can think of…Be creative! Viva Deo’s PurePollen is harvested in Iowa, USA on a small bee farm also known as an apiary. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or people on blood thinners like wrafarin should not eat bee pollen. People can be allergic to bee pollen. In order to safely find out if you are allergic to bee pollen, place one granule underneath your tongue and let it dissolve. Slowly increase by one granule each day until you are confident that you are not allergic.

Here are the top 5 awesome health benefits of bee pollen

1. Increases Libido and Fertility

Bee pollen is known as a powerful aphrodisiac and it also helps with fertility. It also is beneficial for those with prostate problems and it revitalizes male seminal substances.

2. Increases Your Energy, Muscle Growth, Stamina, and Strength

Because PurePollen is packed with nutrients, minerals, and Vitamin B, it’s a great natural energy enhancer. In addition, pollen is loaded with protein and carbohydrates to keep you going strong all day. It makes a great addition to that afternoon pick me up cup of coffee! The British Sports Council found that when athletes supplemented daily with bee pollen, their strength increased substantially by about 40-50%. The 1972 Finnish track team swept the Olympics earning gold medals in every contest. The coach ascribed their winning to their daily bee pollen supplement regimen. The British Royal Society noted that adults who regularly consumed bee pollen saw an increase in height.

3. Fights Inflammation

Studies done on mice showed that bee pollen can be used as a supplement to treat chronic inflammation, liver disease, and degenerative conditions. Bee pollen as a similar effect of drugs like naproxen, analgin, phenylbutazone and indomethacin which are used to treat inflammation.

4. Strengthens Your Immune System

Studies have shown that bee pollen consumption leads to an increase in white blood cell production, especially lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that rid the body of harmful infections, bacteria, viruses, metabolic waste, and mutated cells. PurePollen is good for the intestinal flora as well as having antibiotic properties that can prevent viruses. It’s also a great source of antioxidants which help to fight free radicals. It could also be used as a natural allergy reliever because it can reduce your histamine reaction.

5. Protects and Nourishes Skin

PurePollen is chocked full of vitamins and amino acids, which help to protect skin and help create new cells. PurePollen may be helpful in fighting off skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Bee pollen can have soothing, invigorating, and revitalizing effects on the skin making your skin look and feel younger. Bee pollen could be helpful in the treatment of acne.

***WARNING****: For heart health, one study found that bee pollen inhibits COX-2, but not COX-1. This is the same effect as Vioxx which was found to increase the risk of heart attacks in susceptible people. Do not eat bee pollen or any bee pollen supplements if you are susceptible to any heart health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, diabetes, irregular heartbeat, or any blood pressure issues.

Ideally, you should get bee pollen that is harvested locally. You want to find raw and organic bee pollen and bees that have not been feed high fructose corn syrup. Otherwise it could be toxic.

-Some information from Dr. Michael VanDerschelden

What is barley grass? Barley Grass is the leaf of the barley plant. Barley Grass benefits are best when the barley is grown young. That way the leaves can absorb nutrients from the soil. Barley leaves can grow to be 12-14 inches and when this happens they contain chlorophyll as well as all the vitamins, minerals, and protein necessary for humans. It also is a good source of amino acids and polypeptides (smaller proteins that can be easily absorbed by the blood).

Barley Grass Juice

Barley Grass is an enzyme rich food, helps with gut health, stress reduction, and can help in the prevention and treatment of cancer. It has a high source of the enzyme superoxide dismutase. This enzyme aids in the fight against free radicals which contribute to aging. This enzyme also stops the increase of cancer cells. Barley Grass also plays a role in maintaining stable bone metabolism and overall mental and physical health.

PureBeets lettuce wraps…simple and delicious!

PureBeets Lettuce Wraps

Recipe Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 16 bib lettuce leaves
• boneless chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 4 cups greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp. sesame oil
• 4 tbsp. sesame seeds
• 2 tsp. beet root powder
• In a large bowl, combine yogurt and beet root powder, and mix well to combine thoroughly.
• Add chicken, carrots, scallions, raisins, and sesame oil. Mix well to combine thoroughly.
• Place two bib leaves on each of four serving plates and top each with equal amounts of chicken mixture.
• Sprinkle each lettuce wrap with sesame seeds as garnish.
• Serve immediately.