Let me tell you something. Coffee comes from God. There’s no two ways about it. That’s probably why, when I roll out of bed, I head straight for the coffee maker instead of hitting my knees. And lo my morning prayer/meditation routine doesn’t really get started until I’ve had at least half a cup. You see, it’s that sixth sense guiding me to help pry my third eye open so that I may commune more completely with… Or maybe I’m just an addict. Regardless, if you’re a coffee fiend like me, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. And yes, I’m happy to say, your health can even benefit from the beverage of that divine bean.

So, in addition to its incredible taste, clearing the fog of sleep, and making everything good come your way, what exactly can coffee do to assist in a healthy lifestyle? I’m glad you asked. For starters it can lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and colon cancer. It can lift your mood, treat headaches and even lower your risk of cavities.

Sound too good to be true? Well researchers with very big brains at Harvard don’t think so. After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, they determined that one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits AND having six cups or more each day slashed men’s risk by 54% and women’s by 30%. And that’s just one of hundreds of studies suggesting that coffee may be something of a health food — especially in higher amounts.

Over six studies have shown that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones. There’s also evidence that coffee may help manage asthma and control attacks when medication isn’t available.

Is it a miracle? I think so. But there are scientific reasons for all this good as well. Oddly enough many of coffee’s benefits are a direct result of its high caffeine content. There is very strong evidence that the risk reduction for Parkinson’s disease is directly related to caffeine and in fact, based on this evidence, some Parkinson’s drugs are now being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine. Caffeine is also what helps in treating asthma and headaches and it can also be a powerful aid in enhancing athletic endurance and performance. It stimulates the brain and nervous system making you more alert and boosting concentration. A study in Brazil even found that children who drink coffee with milk each day are less likely to have depression than other children.

Be cautious however and pay attention to what your own body says. In some, coffee can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. Coffee may also raise cholesterol levels and contribute to artery clogging. But most recent large studies show no significant adverse effects on most healthy people. (Pregnant women, heart patients, and those at risk for osteoporosis may still be advised to limit or avoid coffee.)

Another reason for all these incredible health benefits comes from the fact that coffee is loaded with antioxidants, some of which become especially potent during the roasting process. A certain group of antioxidant compounds called quinines, when administered to lab rats increased their insulin sensitivity which partially explains why studies have shown that those drinking decaf coffee but not tea beverages also showed a reduced diabetes risk (though it was about half as much as those drinking caffeinated coffee). Another Italian study showed that another compound called trigonelline, which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste, has both antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties which is what helps to prevent dental cavities from forming.

Halleluja! I think I’ll have another cup.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

877MyJuicer.com

“Let the sun shine, Let the sun shine in. The sun shine in.”; “Happy is the bride the sun shines upon”; “The sun’ll come out tomorrow.  Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be sun”… And if not you can get a nifty futuristic box to shine rays of depression lifting happiness through your eyes and into heart.  What a world we live in. (Name the title of one of the songs quoted above and you’ll get $5 off any purchase at 877MyJuicer.com)

Now I’m not about to jump off the Coronado Bridge over a little lack of sunlight but I have to admit that even in beautiful San Diego, the setting of the sun at 4:30 in the afternoon saps my energy and depletes my world of just enough joy to be noticeable.  I wouldn’t consider myself anything but a mild sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) but this condition is much more pervasive than you would think.  It is estimated that 10 million are greatly affected in the United States alone and that another 10 to 20 percent experience symptoms of SAD less severely.  Women are more affected than men overall and it is more common the farther North you are but this condition, especially when combined with pre existing depression, can be serious enough to greatly affect quality of life and in certain cases even result in hospitalization.

The precise cause of SAD isn’t known but most evidence suggests that it arises from abnormalities in how your body manages and matches its circadian (internal biological) rhythms to the 24-hour day. Specifically, the hormone melatonin—which helps control body temperature, hormone secretion and sleep and is produced in the brain mainly during the hours of darkness—is thought to play a major role in Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Basically, during the low-light months of fall and winter, people with SAD produce so much more melatonin than normal that it can cause potentially debilitating symptoms of depression. The major treatment, therefore, is light because it can reduce symptoms by suppressing the brain’s production of melatonin and help regulate the body’s internal clock.

So, absent some miracle in changing the cycles of the galaxy, we’re forced to either hibernate, or rely on one slightly less impressive miracle of modern science; the light box.  Light therapy or phototherapy, has been used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder since the early 1980s and many mental health professionals now consider it to be standard treatment for SAD.  Now you can’t just pull up a chair to the brightest lamp in your house because light boxes, which contain powerful fluorescent bulbs or tubes, emit a type and intensity of light that isn’t found in normal household lighting.  Light therapy mimics outdoor light and causes a biochemical change in your brain that lifts your mood.  And it’s really very simple.  Consult with a doctor to determine the right combination of intensity, duration and timing but on average, 30 minutes done first thing in the morning with a typical 10,000 lux light box will produce great results in a matter of days and at most a few weeks.  In order for light therapy to work, the light must enter your eyes indirectly. You can’t get the same effect through skin exposure but you also shouldn’t look directly at the light box because it can damage your eyes.  One of the great things about light therapy is that you can set the light box on a table or desk next to you while you read, watch television, have a conversation, work (we use the goLite BLU by Apollo Health around the office and it seems to make 5 o’clock come a bit faster) or simply meditate while looking out the window… into that bleak winter darkness (hopefully not).

If you’re pregnant or prefer to avoid medications but you feel something must be done for your depression, light therapy is a wonderful alternative.  It has also been shown to positively affect obsessive-compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, postpartum depression and some forms of insomnia but it should not be considered a replacement for standard treatment and you should always consult with a professional.

There are several other, natural ways of treating SAD and depression as well.  Essential fatty acids (Omega 3s) from fish, flax, and some plants have been shown in some cases to be more effective than SSRI drugs for depression. A study at the University of British Columbia showed that supplementing with tryptophan (found in nutritional yeast or 5 HTP) and vitamin D3, along with morning light therapy, achieved a 64% improvement in SAD symptoms.  St. John’s Wort is also extremely useful in treating SAD. This extract has been thoroughly researched as a natural anti-depressant and the studies show that St. John’s Wort produces improvements in anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances as well and without side effects.

Laugh!  That’s right.  Do whatever you have to do get those giggles going because it will stimulate endorphins—those pain relieving neurotransmitters that make us feel good.  And of course exercise.  A fast half hour walk at midday in those dark months can greatly improve your mood overall and combat SAD specifically because ultimately, there’s never a true replacement for the real sun.  Despite some bad press around skin cancer and over exposure to UV rays, the benefits of Vitamin D are essential to health and happiness and one study even shows that the incidence of cancer due to a vitamin D deficiency is greater than that from UV exposure. As the early 20th century composer W. R. Williams wrote, “Everybody’s Happy When the Sun Shines”

Be well,

Juicy Josh

Oh how delightfully blissful we live when we’re in good health, taking care to eat right, exercise, and generally stay on top of our well being.  That’s why it’s so darn frustrating to be stopped in our tracks by that pesky and pervasive virus known as the common cold.  Now I’m somewhat of a health nut…  I say somewhat because I do, on occasion, indulge and compared to some like my dear Aunt and Mother I’m a lightweight when it comes to healthy diet and prevention.  However, I go to great lengths to keep my immune system in tip top shape.  So wasn’t I surprised when those sniffles that I at first believed to be allergies mutated into a full fledged, knock me on my tuchus cold.  Now over the holiday week I’d been on 3 airplanes, mingled with a variety of friends and family and gone through a pretty major temperature drop so I should have boned up on my vitamin C but what I want to talk about in this article is what to do in a healthy way to knock these things out as quickly as possible.

To start I want to promote the product Wellness Formula by Source Naturals (which we don’t even sell so there’s no ulterior motive here).  To go through the list of the 40 immune boosting ingredients would take too much space but this stuff is essential for daily immune system maintenance and when you first feel those symptoms, this herbal supplement can stave off the worst of it fast.  Unfortunately, because I thought it was allergies (and possibly because my giant ego told me there was no way I was getting sick) I failed to start in time but it’s been three days and I’m worlds from where I was Tuesday morning.

Once you’ve got a cold it is recommended you get as much Vitamin C as possible; 5,000 milligrams or more a day.  Find a good supplement but also, because liquids are so important as well consider a lot of fresh grapefruit or orange juice.  Grapefruit is recommended because in addition to the high vitamin C content it helps detoxify the liver.  When taking such high doses you can sometimes get diarrhea so use a calcium ascorbate powder form of vitamin C which is less irritating to the digestive tract.

Zinc is also very important.  A recent study has shown that cold-infected volunteers who sucked on a 23-milligram zinc gluconate lozenge every 2 hours had significantly shorter colds than cold-infected volunteers who sucked on a placebo. Other research has shown that lozenges made only with either zinc gluconate-glycine or zinc acetate shorten the duration of cold symptoms.

Hot fluids and lots of liquid are very important for knocking out a cold.  Because cold viruses grow and multiply when the temperature around them is around 90°F (which is roughly the bodies’ temperature without fever), they are far less comfortable and less likely to replicate so quickly when their environment heats up. Drinking hot fluids will warm your throat as well as impair viral replication and they also have a mild decongestant effect, which helps relieve nasal stuffiness. Taking herbal drinks such as ginger tea is doubly helpful because of their heating effect as well as the antiviral effect.  Soup is essential.  Now I’m sorry my vegetarian friends but chicken soup’s effect on combating a cold is no urban myth.  Studies have shown it works… but take heart, researcher’s suspect that the soup’s cold-fighting powers come not from the chicken but from the vegetables that are usually part of the stock.

Drinking lots of water and fruit and vegetable juice will help to flush toxic by-products out of the body as quickly and efficiently as possible but avoid things like tea and coffee that have diuretic (fluid-eliminating) properties.

Garlic (raw, juiced or supplements) has been used forever in combating and preventing colds.  Recent studies have shown that subjects taking supplements of allicin, the component of garlic considered to be the major biologically active agent produced by the plant, had a reduced risk of catching a cold by more than half.  Those who did catch a cold were more likely to make a speedier recovery and the chances of re-infection following a cold were significantly reduced.

Vitamin A is a nutrient vital to the mucous membranes throughout the respiratory system during a cold or flu. It can be taken in the form of beta carotene (carrot juice) which is a precursor of vitamin A, in higher dosages.

Some general rules to follow while sick: Avoid milk and other dairy products which have been shown in studies to trigger the release of histamine, a chemical that contributes to runny nose and nasal congestion which can make chest, sinus, and nasal congestion worse.  Avoid alcoholic drinks, as these are dehydrating and deplete the body of vitamin C while putting extra strain on the liver, which has to work extra hard to detoxify the body during illness anyway.  If you’re not hungry don’t feel obliged to eat, as long as you drink plenty. Foods should be as light and easily digestible as possible, with a strong emphasis on vegetable soups, broths, salads and lightly cooked fish or chicken.  Avoid high-fat, indigestible foods such as cheese, red meat and pastries.

Basically it’s important to eat a balanced diet. Take supplements as needed to ensure you are receiving the recommended dietary allowances for vitamin A, the vitamin B complex (vitamins Bl, B2, Bs, B6, folic acid), and vitamin C, as well as the minerals zinc and copper.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

JUICE WITH YOUR JUICER TODAY!!!!

Everybody loves a superhero and the fantasy of magic and miracles.  In our modern, scientific world these things seem to exist almost exclusively in movies, comic books, and of course the new age world of health nuttiness.  But as “educated” as we all are its amazing how we still have a tendency to run to extremes—doubt everything or believe anything.  I know a Doctor who believes if you’re maintaining your weight, you’re getting sufficient nutrition and health fanatic who aspires to become a “lightarian”. In my view, wisdom is approaching the promise of something fantastic with skepticism as well as an open mind.  J. Krishnamurti once said that doubt, although crucial, should be kept on a leash and occasionally allowed to run free.  I’m a big fan of moderation and balance, probably because in my short life I’ve taken up residence temporarily at each of the fanatical poles.  And in that vein I want to restate my basic belief that true health cannot be achieved by focusing obsessively on one aspect of life but rather by a holistic approach to all of life.

The above paragraph is really about managing expectations but what does that have to do with superfoods?  And what are superfoods anyway?  To define them, superfoods are basically a group of natural and easily available foods that have been identified as supremely nutritious and containing benefits essential for optimal health and disease prevention.  They are powerful enough to ward off or impact heart disease, cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and more.  They will help alter your mood, maintain your weight and ultimately live longer.  Some experts even claim that 50% to 70% of suffering could be eliminated by a superfood rich diet.  And its statements like that that bring me back to the point about expectations.  My personal belief, based on my own experiences and observations, is that there is no magic food that will cure all your problems, but that could be said about anything.  Happiness comes when we decide to be happy, not when we find the “right” thing out there to make us so…  Whew! I’m on a tangent.  And because of limited space I’m going to make the transition into the real purpose of this article abrupt.  Ladies and gentlemen… SUPERFOOD!

Ok, first here’s a list of the top superfoods: Beans, Blueberries, Broccoli, Oats, Oranges, Pumpkin, Salmon, Soy, Spinach, Tea (green or black), Tomatoes, Turkey, Walnuts, and of course Yogurt.  Now lets breakdown a few key ones.

Blueberries: My favorite and the staple of my daily (and oft mentioned) Power Shake, these babies are packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids.  They are high in potassium and vitamin C and not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, they are also an anti-inflammatory.

Omega 3s: Essential for the heart, joints, and memory there’s some evidence that shows it may also help reduce depression.  Omega-3s are most prevalent in fatty, cold-water fish like wild salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel but you can also get them from fortified eggs, flax seed, walnuts and of course supplements.

Soy: This ones all about lowering cholesterol.  It has been shown that a diet rich in soy fiber protein can lower cholesterol as much as statins, the most widely prescribed cholesterol medicine. It is cautioned however that if you have a family history of breast cancer it is not recommended that you eat extra soy.

Fiber: A high fiber diet will also help you maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and because fiber helps you feel full longer, it’s a great tool in weight management. Whole grains, beans, fruit, and vegetables are all good sources.

Tea: Green or black tea are said to have the same overall antioxidant power.  However, a recent study on green tea found that men who drank it regularly had lower cholesterol than those who didn’t.   Green tea is high in the antioxidant ECGC which has also been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Calcium: Got Milk? (I can’t wait for the emails from my vegan friends…  although they’ll go after me for the fish too I guess).  The bottom line is that calcium does in fact help build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis and if you want it amply and easily, you’ll find it in dairy products.  Some studies show that calcium also helps with weight loss and really…  the cows don’t mind.

Dark Chocolate: I know I said blueberries are my favorite but if I were stranded on an island it would be a tough choice between them and dark chocolate.  They’re both so good and they are also packed with antioxidants.  Studies have also shown that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure. It is recommended that you look for chocolate with 70% or higher cocoa content.  In other words, the darker, the better.

So there you have it, the key to… I won’t say happiness…  let’s just say an important part of healthiness.

Be well,

Juicy Josh

www.877myjuicer.com

Really one of the best live shows ever.  I saw them once in Manhattan and was so wiped out I didn’t get out of bed the whole next day.  That’s pretty much what I wanted to do after the fires last week but I couldn’t stop scratching.  I’m not sure if it was all the stress or an allergy to something or a combination of many things but I found myself with hives… (the skin irritation that is, although they sound like fun guys to hang out with)  Some people get this frequently when they’re stressed or exposed to an allergen but for me this was a first time deal (not that I can imagine anyone getting used to it).   And what a miserable deal it was.  Now I’m not going to write an entire article on hives but along with the specific treatments, I really increased the intake of many natural “good for the skin” items that I AM going to write about.  Specifically for the hives I used anti-itch creams, antihistamines (I was itchy darnit) and the miraculous “Hives” homeopathic tablets from Hyland’s.

The cosmetics industry in this country raked in billions last year, with sales of skin care products bringing in the largest share.  What most people don’t know is that the cheapest and most effective method for preserving and healing skin comes from natural foods.  Here are just a few:

Green tea, which is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes, has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light.  Therefore, green tea reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols — compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals and reactivate dying skin cells.  Green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Salmon (and many other other fatty fish as well as walnuts and flaxseed) is high in healthy fatty acids that are crucial for healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin and omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods like salmon help keep the skin supple and youthful.  Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.

Many experts believe blueberries to be the highest food source of antioxidants which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage which makes the skin look younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin and all that is why load them in my blender every morning for my “power Shake”.

Carrots—my absolute favorite veggie to juice—which also contain high levels of antioxidants, are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient for healthy skin. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

And finally, drink lots of pure, clean water.  Drinking plenty of water will help keep your skin young and healthy. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. In other words, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear.

One last thing to consider is that many experts consider raw food juicing to be the surest way to healthy skin.  It is recommend to juice fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a powerful blender to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows.

Shine people.

Be well,

Juicy Josh

Pick-up a great juicer at http://www.877myjuicer.com

I’d love to say that my first thought after getting the evacuation notice Monday was, better grab the wheatgrass juicer… but of course I’m not that advanced yet.  And somehow I put more importance on my Dad’s paintings and the photo albums.  Go figure… All kidding aside, it was quite a week down here in southern California and we want to extend our prayers and well wishes to the individuals and families that lost so much during this ordeal.  Obviously in a crisis the safety of our loved ones and the irreplaceable items we treasure take priority but, being suddenly forced of town for a few days gave me the opportunity to keep it healthy when on the road in a pinch.  It’s really not that hard if you have a little time to plan and several key items on hand.

Most would think that juicing on the road is impossible but that’s because so many people think of the big, heavy electric juicer that takes up a ton of space.  There are several light, portable and extremely functional manual juicers available like The Healthy Juicer by Lexen that work well for this type of situation and are so small they will fit nicely in any travel bag along with the rest of your prized possessions.  Because they are masticating juicers, they are perfect for wheatgrass and leafy greens but most are powerful enough to juice apples and carrots and whatever else your heart desires.  So even if wheatgrass is hard to come or you forgot to pack you’re fruits and veggies before you left, you can surely get your hands on something judicable and healthy.

Dried Fruits like figs, prunes, dates and even papaya, mango, apricot, and cranberries are all high in fiber which will keep the digestion rolling and something yummy like banana chips have almost a potato chip-like taste.  If you’re a do it yourself dehydrator you’ll probably already have some of these ready to go.

Raw fruits and vegetables in a cooler are essential not just for juicing but to snack on as you go.  Oranges, bananas, apples, grapes and any other unpeeled fruit will make great munchies as will baby carrots, celery or any sliced veggies.  Make sure you wash everything before you leave home and put anything sliced in a Ziploc or vacuum sealed bag.  It will preserve your snacks a little longer and will make it easier to eat while driving top speed through the inferno.

Food bars, food bars, food bars.  If you’re without them and you’re in need of a snack while gassing up you’ll end up with a half unwrapped Snickers hanging out of your mouth while you drive away… and then the guilt, the shame, the remorse.  It’s just not worth it.  Any health food store will have a plethora available (yeah, I’m thinking of Three Amigos too).  My favorites are made by Organic Food Bar.  There are tons of options, many are vegan and they are all USDA Organic certified.  (And we don’t even sell them so you know I’m not just a pitch man).

So that and several bottles of purified water will get you where you’re going.  Once you’re there lets hope you find a few healthy restaurants or a health food store because this articles long enough already.  Besides, I’ve gotta run…

Be well,

Juicy Josh

www.877myjuicer.com

I got an email from a member of the Juicy Josh MySpace community earlier this week asking me what I had to do with OJ?  Strange question, I thought…  and not very nice.  Of course the whole thing was a big misunderstanding that we straightened out quickly.  But it got me thinking and I realized that I hadn’t really written anything about this wonderful fruit and its health benefits.  (I don’t really have much to say about the other OJ)  And away we go…

So every year around flu season we get the sniffles and run to the grocery store to slam as much of this stuff as possible because everybody knows it’s fights off colds and flu.  Most of us are aware that it’s choc full ‘o Vitamin C which is vital for a healthy immune system but that’s really just the beginning.  Let’s start there though.  Did you know that just one orange supplies 116.2% of the daily value for Vitamin C?  And not many know this but Vitamin C is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in the body, disarming free radicals and preventing damage in the aqueous environment both inside and outside cells. This, in a nutshell, means it helps fight cancer and inflammatory conditions like asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  And because it destroys free radicals which oxidize cholesterol and make it stick to the artery walls, Vitamin C can help keep cholesterol low preventing heart attack or stroke.

So what else? Recent studies have shown that the healing properties of oranges is also associated with a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds, most importantly the flavanone molecule herperidin, which is shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol in animal studies, and to have strong anti-inflammatory properties.  Found primarily in the pulp and peel, this is just another reason to include these when you’re juicing (at least the pulp for God’s sake).

Several studies in the last few years have shown that a diet high in citrus fruit provides a statistically significant protective effect against several types of cancer as well as cardiovascular disease.  One US study even shows that one extra serving a day of citrus can reduce risk of stroke by 19%. This same report includes evidence of positive effects for arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, gallstones, multiple sclerosis, cholera, gingivitis, optimal lung function, cataracts, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and obesity.

Compounds in citrus fruits, including oranges, called limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon and to lower cholesterol.  A Compound called polymethoxylated flavones, found in the orange peel have been shown to lower cholesterol as effectively as Statin drugs.

Oranges are a great source of fiber, they’ve been shown to help prevent kidney stones, ulcers and stomach cancer and finally, it’s been shown that Vitamin C supplements don’t provide the same protective benefits as drinking a glass of orange juice.  In one researchers own words, “It appears that vitamin C is not the only chemical responsible for antioxidant protection.” In oranges, vitamin C is part of a matrix involving many beneficial phytochemicals, “But how they are interacting is still anyone’s guess,”

Sweet little balls of sunshine.  A great juicer is the CitriStar Citrus Juicer!

Be Well,

Juicy Josh