Autoimmune Detox – The Benefits and Side Effects

The essence of detoxification is to rid the body of poisonous substances.  From chelation to dietary detox, there are many ways to detoxify your body and in Ayurvedic tradition, spring time is one of the best times to do this.  My choice of autoimmune detox was to minimize any strenuous exercise and rely only on the essential supplements / medications for a month.  Items crossed out below were removed during detox:
Swimming exercises 2-3X per weekWii Fit+ Yoga & strength exercises
As of 3/17 I stopped exercising & at 3/20 I’ve removed all supplements from my diet.  3/20-3/22 visited Sarasota (2 hours North of where I live) & had the longest sustainable day since I began the diet on 3/21 from 8:30am to 11:30pm.  Back in Naples on 3/23 & crashed – 13 hours of sleep on 3/23 & 12 hours on 3/24.  This confirms I am still anemic & am back on my iron supplement.  Started feeling better and then had something that did not agree with me at Whole Foods on 3/30 (may have been tomato paste hidden) and flared up for the next 2-3 days.  Normally this would only take 1 day, but detoxing makes me more susceptible to flare-ups and I got a cold (1st time since I started the diet) that everyone around me was getting (lethargic, scratch throat) from 4/1 – 4/14.  Worst days were 4/5 & 4/6 as coughing prevented me from sleeping.  On 4/5 at 2am and 4/6 10pm felt a chocking feeling and violent cough to remedy which made me sore all over from shoulders to bottom of ribs.  Using an elevated pillow, Mucinex (Fast-Max severe congestion & cough), a sore throat spray, lots of chicken soup, and menthol cough drop while going to sleep improved my condition and allowed me to sleep.  Cold started to go away on 4/8 but is still lingering around and did not leave the house for a week.  The detox reduced weight slightly but the cold took my weight from 130 to 127lbs – my lowest since starting the diet.  Average weight in so far in 2013 is 131 lbs. and fluctuates from 127 to 134lbs.  Most days I average 8 hours of interrupted sleep (get up 2-3 times per night) and add 1 1/2 – 4 hours of sleep in the daytime.
Benefits
Helps identify which supplements are working and which are not.Allows the body to heal on it’s own terms.Lack of rigorous exercise made my body less sore in some areas, but exercise back in the pool will help other areas.  Finding a balance of exercise intensity is key and may need to work with a rehab facility with a pool to find out.Less pills to take!  Much less side effects from the medicine.
Side Effects
Longer lasting and more susceptible to flare-ups
More susceptible to colds / fluWeight loss since I’m underweightLess physical strength and endurance along with soreness in areas which may prevent from longer periods of sleep throughout the nightNeed to sleep more (but this might be the best thing for me)
While detoxing has it’s risks, you get to know the truth on what your body really needs and not what you think it needs.  Now that the detox is almost over, I can introduce one supplement at a time to see if it’s helping along with slowly starting my swimming regimen again.   In the next few months, I will start blood tests again to see how I’ve progressed without these supplements.

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Acai: history, health benefits, and two delicious smoothies

The acai berry is a powerful superfood that is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It also has a wonderful flavor that makes an excellent addition to smoothies.

Some describe the taste of the berry as bitter, but with a little added natural sweetener, you can bring out the delicious flavor in this fruit. Try buying the frozen pulp of the acai. In the pulp form, it is easy to add this superfood to your next smoothie.
Although often called a berry, acai really isn’t one in the traditional sense. In technical, botanical terms, acai is a drupe. This means the seed is in the center of the fruit, just like in a cherry or a peach. Acai fruits grow on the acai palm, which is a tree that is native to Central and South America. The acai palm is harvested for its fruits, but also for hearts of palm. Both the berries and the hearts of palm have long been an important source of sustenance for the native people of the Amazon region.
When westerners first discovered the fruits of the acai palm and its many wonderful health benefits, some marketers of the juice and other products went a little too far. It was sold as a miracle weight loss supplement and anti-aging cure. Some even made the claim that the juice of the acai could cure cancer. Not only were these claims made with no or questionable evidence to back them up, marketers falsely claimed that celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Rachel Ray were endorsing their products.
Whatever you do, do not let the negative press keep you from using acai. Although many claims made over the last few years were over the top and false, acai berries are a genuine, nutritional superfood. They may not erase your wrinkles on the spot, cause you to lose ten pounds per week, or cure cancer, but acai berries are full of valuable antioxidants, healthy fats, protein, and important vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, and iron.
The health benefits of acai berries come from their nutritional content. Frozen acai pulp is low in calories and contains healthy fats. It has no cholesterol and very little sodium. It contains a significant amount of fiber and protein, plus vitamins A, B, C, and E, calcium, iron, and a number of trace minerals and antioxidants. Here are some ways in which acai is good for you.
Weight management. Acai may not be the miracle weight loss supplement as some manufacturers have claimed, but it can promote healthy weight loss and weight maintenance. This is because the berries are low in calories and high in fiber. They can help you feel full while also providing important nutrients. As part of a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen, acai can help you keep a healthy weight.Antioxidants. Free radicals are those nasty little molecules that can cause damage to your DNA. This damage, as it accumulates, can create all kinds of problems, from premature aging to cancer. Antioxidants are compounds that destroy free radicals before they have the chance to harm you. Acai berries have more antioxidants than nearly all other foods with high levels of these helpful compounds, including red wine, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. The antioxidants found in acai fruits are called anthocyanins and flavonoids.Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the hardening of arteries that leads to heart disease. Acai has been shown to prevent this hardening through the anti-inflammatory properties in the fruit. According to research, the juice of acai seems to be able to inhibit cytokines, compounds that are involved in the development of atherosclerosis.Cholesterol. Research conducted with rats has shown that including acai in your diet can improve your cholesterol profile. Rats that were fed acai and a high fat diet ended up with lower levels of HDL, the bad cholesterol. While the study was not conducted on humans, the results found in rats are promising and give you another reason to include acai in your diet. It is thought that the presence of phytosterols in acai, natural plant compounds that are similar to cholesterol, are responsible for this cholesterol-lowering effect.Cancer. Yet another promising study has shown that acai may help to kill cancer cells. In a cell culture made of leukemia cells, extract of acai destroyed up to 86 percent of the cells. It is important to understand that testing compounds for their anti-cancer properties in a culture as opposed to within the human body is a very early step in finding something that fights cancer. However, the results are very positive and more research will likely be conducted to find out the potential of acai in fighting cancer cells.Healthy fats. Acai berries have significant quantities of monounsaturated fats, especially oleic acid. These are healthful fats that can help to improve your cholesterol profile and decrease your risk of developing heart disease. These fats are also known to help regulate blood sugar levels and insulin. For people with type 2 diabetes, getting more monounsaturated fats is important. Oleic acid is also responsible for keeping your cell’s membranes supple. This allows your cells to absorb nutrients more efficiently.Protein. Acai berries contain a nearly complete protein profile. A complete protein is one that contains all of the amino acids, or building blocks of protein, that your body cannot manufacture on its own. Foods with a complete protein profile include meat, dairy, and soy. Acai has nearly all of the necessary amino acids and its protein profile is more complete than most fruits.What different forms of acai are available? Acai berries do not travel well, so you will not find the fresh fruit in your local health food store. Most commonly, you will find acai as a supplement, in pill form, as a powder, or as a juice. You can now also find acai as a frozen pulp both in health store and online.Which is the best form of acai? This may be a matter of opinion, but the best way to get the pure, unaltered fruit, is to buy the frozen acai pulp. Acai supplements and powders may provide some nutrients, but the whole food is always better and contains more nutrients as well as fiber. Juices may be an ok option, but beware the extra ingredients. Read the label carefully and choose a juice that has plenty of real acai and no added sugar. Also, raw juices retain more nutrients from the berry than pasteurized juices. The juices can also be very expensive.Can acai be used topically? Yes. You may notice acai as an ingredient in beauty products, specifically, acai oil. The reason manufacturers add it to their products is for the potent antioxidants. Studies do show that the amount of antioxidants in the berry is retained in the oil and that acai oil is safe to use on skin. Whether it really helps to reduce wrinkles is not known.Are there any side effects or dangers associated with eating acai? In general, acai is considered very safe to consume. Some people may be allergic to it. Try acai with care if you are allergic to pollens or palm products. If you have any concerns, or if you are pregnant or nursing, consult with your doctor before trying acai.
The best way to use acai in your smoothies is to use the frozen pulp. This way, you get the whole fruit with all its nutrients and the fiber. Using the frozen fruit also helps you get a nice texture and consistency in your smoothie. It is similar to adding frozen berries. Also keep in mind that if you are using pure acai juice, the flavor is very strong. Acai tastes rice and fruity, but also a little bit like chocolate with hints of red wine. It goes well with berries, grapes, pears, coconut, and cacao. Have fun and experiment, but also try these recipes.
Acai-Pomegranate Smoothie
Pomegranate is another richly flavorful fruit with a deep red color and plenty of antioxidants. Together with acai, this packs a powerful and healthful punch. Blend the following ingredients together until you get a nice consistency.
1/2 cup liquid (water, green tea, or juice)Two tablespoons pure pomegranate juice or fresh pomegranate seeds3.5 ounces (100 grams) frozen acai puree, 1 tablespoon acai powder, or 2 tablespoons acai juice1/2 fresh or frozen banana1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberriesA little honey, stevia, or maple syrup to sweeten (optional)
Coconut-Chocolate Acai Smoothie
If you are in the mood for a rich, decadent dessert smoothie that still provides you with important nutrients, combine acai with coconut and chocolate. Make sure you use raw cacao for maximum nutrition. Blend together the ingredients until nice and smooth.
1 cup coconut or almond milk3.5 ounces (100 grams) frozen acai puree, 1 tablespoon acai powder, or 2 tablespoons acai juice1 fresh or frozen banana1 tablespoon raw cacao powder1 tablespoon coconut oilA little honey, stevia, or maple syrup to sweeten (optional)
For all of my smoothies featuring this wonderful superfood – acai smoothie recipes.
Lately, I’ve been getting the frozen 3.5 ounce Sambazon organic pure acai smoothie packs from my co-op. Amafruits is another brand I like. Your local health food store or even grocery store should carry these or something comparable.
Sources for this blog post include:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A7a%C3%AD_palm
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8369105#.UW1LOrU3u8A
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/
http://www.acairoots.com/products/frozen-acai-packs/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/acai-berries-and-acai-berry-juice-what-are-the-health-benefits
http://www.oprah.com/health/Acai-Dr-Perricones-No-1-Superfood
http://www.naturalnews.com/030344_acai_berry_aging.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/032117_acai_arterial_plaque.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/027928_acai_cholesterol.html
http://news.ufl.edu/2006/01/12/berries/

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Open Enrollment: The Perfect Time to Evaluate Your Medicare Benefits

Not everyone is eligible for Medicare benefits. You become eligible to enroll in Medicare only under particular circumstances:

Once you reach sixty-five years of ageAfter two years of the receipt of disability payments from the Social Security AdministrationAfter a diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease, and/or after a diagnosis of End-Stage Renal Disease (i.e. permanent kidney failure, which requires either a transplant or dialysis)

Ideally, you want to enroll in Medicare when you first become eligible—this is called your Initial Enrollment Period. If you do not enroll in Medicare at that time, you can enroll later during other specific enrollment periods. However, late enrollment will sometimes mean that you will be required to pay higher premiums for Medicare coverage.

Many people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, or both. If you collect retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration or the RRB, you will be automatically enrolled in both Part A and Part B the first day of the month that you turn sixty-five years old. If you collect disability benefits from the Social Security Administration or the RRB, you will be automatically enrolled in both Parts A and B on the first day of the 25th month you collect benefits. A diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease will also qualify you for automatic enrollment. If you are automatically enrolled in Part B under any of the above circumstances, and you do not wish to keep Part B, you need to notify Medicare immediately in order to avoid a bill for the monthly premiums.

Once your Initial Enrollment Period is over, there are several additional enrollment periods during which you can enroll in Medicare.

The General Enrollment Period, which runs January 1 through March 31 of every year. During the General Enrollment Period you can enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Your coverage would then begin on July 1 of that year.A Special Enrollment Period is typically an eight-month-long period that begins anytime you (or your spouse) lose health coverage offered through your employer or union. There are also a few other circumstances in which you may enter a Special Enrollment Period, such as a qualifying move or other loss of coverage. During the Special Enrollment Period you can enroll in both Part A and Part B without penalty.If you want to enroll in Medicare Part C (also known as a Medicare Advantage Plan) or Medicare Part D, you have to enroll either during your Initial Enrollment Period (which is when you first become eligible for Medicare), during certain circumstances that would qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period, or during Annual Election Periods. You may also sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan if you have Medicare Part A and you enroll in Medicare Part B during the Part B General Enrollment Period discussed above.

The Annual Election Period, or Medicare Open Enrollment, is a time every year during which you can review your Medicare benefits and make changes to your Medicare coverage. For Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the Annual Election Period runs from November 15 through December 31. (The 2012 Annual Election Period is scheduled to begin earlier in the year to allow you more time to review your plan and the year’s changes to Medicare benefits and Medicare coverage.) During the Annual Election Period, you can:

Switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan from Original MedicareSwitch back to Original Medicare from a Medicare Advantage PlanSwitch Medicare Advantage Plans, including from a plan without drug coverage to a plan with drug coverage or vice versaMake changes to your prescription drug coverage, such as: join a drug coverage plan, drop your current drug coverage plan, or switch from one plan to another

It is wise to take full advantage of each year’s Annual Election Period. Medicare Advantage Plans change annually and the difference in premiums, deductibles, coinsurance rates, and copayments year to year may mean you have to make significant changes to your finances. Additionally, different plan providers add or drop doctors and hospitals to or from their networks all the time. Covered services will also often change. You need to review your plan every year to ensure that both your doctor and the medical services you use the most continue to be covered under your plan.

Another reason to spend time reviewing the different Medicare plans during this year’s Annual Election Period is the new health care law. This year’s health care reform bill includes many changes to Medicare benefits and Medicare coverage over the next few years. Some of these changes will directly affect your Medicare Advantage Plans and may change the costs associated with or the type of services offered by your plan. What was the perfect plan for you over the last two years may no longer be able to compete with a new, cheaper plan that offers more of the services you medically need. Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer free preventive services while others do not. Additionally, some plans offer lower annual deductibles or less expensive drug copayments than other plans. It is important to compare the different Medicare coverage options available to you during Medicare Annual Election Period so that you can make sure you have the best plan to fit your medical needs and budget.

For more information about Medicare benefits or the Medicare Annual Election Period, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

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