Shop our Natural Health Supplements!

Did you know that there is an “Almond Board of California”? We didn’t either. But now we do. And now you do too. And the good folks at the Almond Board of California have put out some pretty interesting information about almonds and heath health.

According to the World Health Organization report (2004), heart disease accounts for 17.5 million deaths worldwide annually. One way to improve heart health is to make dietary choices that reduce triglyceride levels, an established risk factor for developing heart disease.

The Almond Board recently funded a study to investigate heart health risk factors, namely high triglyceride levels. During the study, human subjects ate muffin products made with pieces of whole almonds, compared to those made with oil. Researchers witnessed a delayed release of fats from the almonds into the body, which resulted in a lower rise in triglyceride levels.

“This new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, expands upon previous cardiovascular research by investigating not only how the plant cell wall may impact how fats are absorbed into the body, but also the potential impact on acute changes in triglyceride levels,” noted Dr. Sarah Berry, Nutritional Sciences Division, Kings CollegeLondon, United Kingdom. “The data suggest that an intact plant cell wall, as found in whole almonds, may impact on how much and how quickly fat is released into the blood, contributing to a lower acute rise in blood triglyceride levels.”

Now that’s a scientific mouthful, so let’s get a little more basic. Triglycerides are the primary form of fat in foods, regardless of the type of fat i.e., unsaturated or saturated. Blood triglycerides normally increase after eating a meal containing dietary fat. Elevated blood triglyceride levels are a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.

The study indicates that the fat found in whole almonds is not as quickly absorbed by the body as that found in almond oil or sunflower oil, which researchers attributed to the plant cell walls found in the whole almond nut. Researchers believe that the plant cell walls found in almonds, act as a physical barrier hindering the rate and release of the lipid during digestion. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

So what else can be found in almonds? One ounce of almonds, about a handful, offers: Fiber (3g); Calcium (75mg); Protein (6g); Iron (1.0mg); Potassium (200 mg); Saturated Fat (1g); Unsaturated Fat (13g).

Source: Almond Board of California - Wed, 12/17/2008
Source: eMaxHealth

Here at Good Elements we love to eat.   We recognize of course that it is healthier and more cost effective to eat at home.   After all, where do you think all of those great  Good Elements Monthly Recipes come from?  But eating out can be a great pleasure - but one that may come with hidden risks to the waistline.

A new study in Review of Agricultural Economics has compared fast food and table service meals at restaurants.  The results of the study show that both types of meals are larger and have more calories than meals prepared at home.  Now here’s the surprise - the typical fast food meal is smaller and has fewer calories than the average meal from a table service restaurant.  Seems intuitive yet counter-intuitive at the same time, right?

Fast food was found to be more energy dense than food from a table service restaurant, but fast food meals also tend to be smaller. As a result, the typical fast food meal had fewer calories than the average meal from a table service restaurant.

Now here’s where it gets interesting.  Table service diners were more likely to reduce their food consumption during the rest of the day, most likely because of the difference in energy density of the food they consumed.  As a result, fast food may ultimately result in more calories as fast food diners tend to eat more throughout the day.

Not all table service restaurants are created equal, and not all diners are either.  But the moral of this Good Elements blog is - be mindful of what you consume when eating out.  Eating incorrectly when eating out can be more damaging to the waistline than that fast food that you avoided.

GoodElements.com was featured yesterday in the Baltimore Sun.

Click:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.hs.briefs052jan05,0,7048217.story

To Read:

Tips to Beat Midday Winter Work Blahs!

We know that exercise helps the heart, and a lack of it can help promote the factors that lead to heart disease.  But how late in life is too late to begin exercising? Well good news, friends, it seems as if it’s never too late.

Epidemiologist Dietrich Rothenbacher of the University of Heidelberg and his colleagues surveyed 312 patients–mostly men–between the ages of 40 and 68 who suffered from coronary heart disease and 479 volunteers matching the patients in age and sex. The scientists asked them to detail their physical activity from the ages of 20 to 39, 40 to 49 and 50 years and older. More than 10 percent of patients and 6 percent of the controls admitted to lifetimes devoid of physical activity.

Compared to these inactive counterparts, those who were active throughout their lives enjoyed more than a 60 percent less chance of developing heart disease. But even those who became active only after the age of 40 enjoyed a 55 percent less chance of cardiovascular trouble, and those who went from being inactive to very active saw the greatest benefits. Although such a survey technique is open to so-called recall bias–a tendency by test subjects to incorrectly estimate their exercise–the researchers found that individuals’ reports matched well with physical fitness measures and even matched better with their ultimate fate. “Our results suggest that a more active physical activity pattern is clearly associated with a reduced risk of [coronary heart disease],” the researchers write in the paper presenting their findings published online in Heart. “And that changing from a sedentary to a more physically active lifestyle even in later adulthood may strongly decrease [coronary heart disease] risk.”

Source:  Scientific American

While the holiday cake baking (and eating!) season may be over, and our thoughts are turning to how to eat healthier in the new year, we wanted to address the seemingly age old margarine vs. butter question.  Which is healthier?

It seems like margarine has been the choice of health professionals as a substitute for butter.  But we’re here to say….not so fast.  Margarine is usually made from hydrogenated oils - which we all know better as the dreaded trans fats.  Butter is a source of saturated fats, and though not recommended for excessive consumption, saturated fats still beat hydrogenated oils in the healthy department.

Butter is comprised of about 80 percent butterfat and 20 percent liquid and is held together with natural emulsifiers. This makes the cooking properties of butter unique compared with other types of fat.  It also  allows sauces to blend and adds flavor and moisture to baked goods.

Margarine is made using either hydrogenated oils or a combination of saturated tropical fats mixed with oils to provide the consistency of butter.  Research suggests that consumption of trans fats is even more closely linked to heart disease risk than saturated fat.

But we’d rather that neither butter or margarine be used! If you must use butter or margarine when cooking or baking, we suggest that you use “cholesterol-lowering margarines” made without hydrogenated oils.  These “margarines” are pricier and don’t taste quite the same as butter or “regular margarine.”  But it’s worth it to avoid the trans fats.  If you must use margarine, and can’t stomach those without hydrogenated oils, then the rule of thumb is to use tub margarine.  Stick margarines are more likely to contain trans fats than tub-style margarines.  As always, read the labels before you buy.

The health supplement world is a confusing, vast place. Integrity is probably not the word that comes to mind when you think about the supplement industry. In my private practice, my patients arrive with large bags full of supplements recommended by friends, the internet or health magazines. They are not sure why they are taking these supplements and they admit they do not take them on a regular basis. I help them sort through these supplements, assess their health needs, and stream line what they are taking on a daily basis. No one wants to waste their money on nutritional supplements their body does not need or will not absorb. Maybe you don’t have time to roam the aisles of your local Whole Foods type store or go to your local naturopathic doctor or acupuncturist to figure out what you need to do to contribute to the health of your body and prevent disease. It is my hope to steer you in the right direction, educate you, and teach you how to benefit from taking a particular supplement. Please don’t waste you money on cheap, poor quality supplements and furthermore, please do not waste your time taking health advice from someone who does not have your overall health in their best interest. Stay with us here and learn from the straight talk that you will read in our blogs, health tips and full disclosure product descriptions.

Integrity is Good Elements offering high quality products and health information you can trust. Our intention is to promote positive lifestyle changes, and provide the education you need to achieve integrity in your personal health. Honestly, how would we be any different from your run of the mill pharmaceutical company if we just sold products to treat symptoms? The goal of our products is not only to decrease and cease annoying symptoms but also to address the cause of imbalance. Unfortunately, taking products alone will not aid you in achieving your ultimate health goals. You must adopt lifestyle changes around your therapeutic goals. This is why we at GE consider our company a lifestyle company, this is why I am involved with GE because these are the principles by which I live and practice naturopathic medicine. We all know by now that the magic pill does not exist but being empowered by information and trusting what you put into your body can make a tremendous difference.

I invite you to learn, to live fully and to trust our intention. I would not promote a product that I would not give to my own family, this integrity is what we the family of GE stand by. During this process of GE product development I was astounded by the lack of regulation in the supplement world. Your average supplement manufacturer is not required to test their products for contaminants like heavy metals, bacteria, yeast or mold. Often times the capsules or tablets will be colored- you certainly do not need to supplement your health with red color number 2. Stick with this health blog and learn vital information regarding your health and well being.

Yours in health,

Dr. Britta Zimmer

Chief Naturopathic Physician & Founder

Welcome to Good Elements.com’s first healthy living blog. We are delighted that you are here and walking with us on the path to better health.

It’s difficult to describe just how happy we are to finally be live, on the web, and sharing these wonderful products and our lifestyle advice with you. Like anything worth while, the creation of Good Elements took a great deal of time, love, and help from family, friends, and strangers who are now friends. Our deepest, heartfelt thanks to you all. You can find out how Good Elements came into being by clicking here.

On this our maiden blog voyage, we want to share our enthusiasm for the gift of good health, and the importance of seeking balance in our everyday lives. As much as we would all like to, we can not bottle all of the secrets to healthy living. While supplements are a good place to start, living a “healthy lifestyle” ‐ and all of that encompasses ‐ is paramount.

Through this blog, the daily health tip, and monthly news articles and recipes, we will be providing practical information that can help you live a more “healthy lifestyle.” We are going to touch on some natural health “current events”, and talk about the major factors that contribute to good (and bad) health, and how you can make small changes that can have dramatic benefits on your health. We at Good Elements want to be your partners in superior health, and this blog and our other information is part of that partnership.

Thanks so much for reading ‐ and for browsing around the site. Check this blog out each week and monitor our health tips every day. The best way to access this information is by signing up for our RSS Feed which with a click of the button can be integrated into your web home pages like MyYahoo, Google, Facebook and others.

Again, welcome to Good Elements. We hope you will visit with us often,

Yours in Good Health,

Dr. Britta Zimmer
Chief Naturopathic Doctor & Founder