What are the Health Benefits of CBD oil?

CBD oil has received a lot of attention in the epilepsy community for its ability to calm the nervous system. Many people are giving it a try, but what are the health benefits of CBD oil or is it simply another drug? While CBD oil is naturally occurring in a plant, we should still examine its properties and the potential benefits and side effects of taking it.

Cannabidiol, which is commonly referred to as CBD, is one of over 100 cannabinoids that are found in cannabis. Its therapeutic attributes have sparked much interest. The CBD compound is nonpsychoactive, which means that it will not produce the high that is often associated with the use of cannabis. This makes it more safe than simply taking cannabis. It also alleviates many of the concerns of the mind altering effects of other cannabinoids, such as THC.

The oils that are CBD dominant are referred to as CBD oils. Exact concentrations and the ratio of CBD to THC will vary depending on the product and the manufacturer. Therefore, CBD oils will show a varying degree of efficacy among patients. CBD oils have demonstrated a wide range of health benefits that could improve the quality of life for patients around the world.

Here are some of the most common benefits that patients have reported with CBD oil:

1. Pain relief

CBD oil has an analgesic effect on the person taking it. This may be due to the fact that CBD interacts with receptors in the brain and the immune system to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. It was discovered by a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, that CBD given to mice and rats will reduce inflammation. This concept has been applied to humans as well. In 2008, a study published inTherapeutics and Clinical Risk Management found that CBD offered effective pain relieve without adverse side effects in patients.

 

2. Anti-Seizure Properties

A seizure will occur when there is an excess of electrical activity in the brain. There have been many cases over the years of high profile cases that have raised the awareness of CBD’s anti-seizure and neuroprotective effect on the brain. It has only been recently that science has been able to confirm this link. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers tested the effects of CBD oils on young adults suffering from Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is a rare type of epilepsy characterized by seizures that are induced by a fever. Individuals who received the CBD treatment saw their seizure frequency drop by 38.9 percent.

Researchers have also been looking into the neuroprotective effect of CBD oil on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons and strokes. They are studying a receptor in the brain to learn how CBD could help with these diseases. Because CBD oil has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, it can alleviate some of the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. However, more research is needed to fully understand the impact of CBD on neurodegenerative disease.

 

3. Combat Anxiety

Anxiety has been a common mental health condition in today’s society. Researchers are starting to include anxiety as one of the symptoms that CBD oil will treat. In a study conducted by the University of São Paulo, it was discovered that CBD significantly reduces anxiety. In this study, participants were suffering from social anxiety disorder. Participants were either given CBD oil or a placebo. The CBD group was associated with significantly decreased anxiety and reduced ECD uptake. Therefore, it is concluded that CBD reduces anxiety in social anxiety disorder. This is related to its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas.

4. Fight Cancer

It is believed that CBD oil may also have a beneficial effect when it comes to cancer treatment. There are a number of ways that CBD oil may be valuable in treating cancer. CBD, along with some of the other compounds that are found in cannabis have an antitumor effect, which amplifies the death of tumor cells occurring in both colon cancer and leukemia. Cannabinoids have shown some promise not just as a palliative agent, but also an antitumor drug due to its ability to inhibit the proliferation, adhesion, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of tumor cells.

Investigations into cervical cancer has shown that CBD can stop the spread of cancer cells. While these looks promising, it is important to note that these studies are not done on humans or even animal test subjects. They should not be construed as conclusive proof that CBD will cure cancer. While the treatment with CBD oil is promising, there are several studies that reported that cannabinoids can stimulate the proliferation of cancer cells at low concentrations.

5. Reduce the Risk of Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease where the pancreas either does not produce enough insulin or the body has become insulin resistant and can no longer use the insulin that the body produces. Researchers have started investigating how CBD can help to prevent the risk of developing diabetes. Researchers published a study in Neuropharmacology, that explored the effect that CBD has on non-obese diabetes prone female mice. It was found that only 32 percent of the mice that received the CBD were diagnosed with diabetes compared to 100 percent of the untreated group.

The reason that CBD may be effective is that it is non-psychoactive, has anti-inflammatory and anti-autoimmune properties. Based on this study, it seems reasonable to consider that CBD may eventually be effective in controlling type 1 diabetes at an early stage of the disease.

CBD oil side effects

While there are many potential health benefits to taking CBD oil, it isn’t without its risks and side effects. Some users of CBD oil have reported depression, dizziness, hallucinations, low blood pressure, and withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability and insomnia.

More studies on humans are needed to fully understand the risks and the side effects that CBD oil may cause. Unfortunately, studies of CBD oil aren’t common. This is due to the fact that it has been listed as a schedule 1 substance and been highly regulated. This has caused some obstacles for researchers. As marijuana becomes legalized, more research is possible and we will be able to understand more about the side effects as well as the health benefits of CBD oil.

 

 

High Potency Biotin 5000 mcg

High Potency Biotin 5000 mcg Review[easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”n” identifier=”B00IOZWC2M” locale=”US” tag=”mcurle08-20″]

Name: Biotin

Website: Available at Amazon.com

Price: 14.20

Owners: Sports Research

Overall Rank: 91 out of 100

Sports Research Biotin High Potency 5000 mcg, Product Overview

This biotin supplement features high potency biotin 5000 international units in cold pressed, organic coconut oil. It is the only non-gmo project verified biotin soft gel available. This product is also gluten free, which is great for people who have a gluten sensitivity.

This biotin supplement comes with a 90 day money-back guarantee. If you don’t see results within 90 days, you can return your biotin for a full refund of the purchase price.

The ingredients in this supplement are Biotin (as d-Biotin USP), extra virgin coconut oil, V-gel capsule (Tapioca, Vegetable Glycerin, Rice Brand wax and purified water.

Note: Taking this product is not recommended if your skin is prone to acne.

 

The Good & the Bad

The Good:

  1. This product can really improve your hair growth if your hair follicles are healthy and working properly.
  2. High Potency biotin will improve your nail strength and growth as well.
  3. Customers report improved skin tone while on the high potency biotin.
  4. Thousands of positive customer reviews reporting improved hair regrowth.

The Bad:[easyazon_image align=”right” cart=”n” height=”333″ identifier=”B00IOZWC2M” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51MHih8pTaL.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”500″]

  1. Some customers have reported that they break out in acne when using this product.
  2. Some people didn’t see any results from taking this biotin.
  3. Customers who are prone to break outs reported that their acne increased with the high potency biotin.

Who is Sports Reasearch’s High Potency Biotin 5000 mcg for?

This product is great for people who are looking to improve their hair and nail growth. Biotin is also recommended for people who are vegetarian or vegan. Vegans are often deficient in B vitamins, which are found in meat. Biotin is part of the B-complex family of nutrients, which also include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamins B-5, B-6 and B-12. Since these vitamins work together to benefit health, vegans and vegetarians may also want to include a B vitamin complex with their biotin.

This is a great solution to a bad haircut. It will speed up the rate of growth and you’ll have to go back to your salon to get another one in just a few weeks instead of months.

Sports Research Biotin Support

You can contact the company through their website’s contact page for questions, comments and concerns about their product.

https://sportsresearch.com/pages/about-us#contact-us

If you’d like to stay conncted with the Sports Research company, you can also follow them on facebook –

https://www.facebook.com/sweetsweatusa

 

Biotin (High Potency) 5000 mcg Price

The bottle of biotin supplements costs $14.20 for 120 capsules. That is about a 3-month supply of biotin if you take 1-2 per day. This is very inexpensive for a supplement. It works out to a little more eleven cents per capsule. Eleven cents per day can fit into almost anyone’s budget.

 

My Final Opinion of High Potency Biotin from Sports Research
[easyazon_image align=”right” cart=”n” height=”500″ identifier=”B00IOZWC2M” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/510JJGoWGeL.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”500″]

This is ideal for someone who is vegan and may have a biotin deficiency. It is a wonderful supplement for someone who is trying to speed up their hair growth. However, it won’t work for the hair loss condition, alopecia areata or alopecia universalis, which is an autoimmune condition. For these conditions, biotin may not be the underlying cause of hair loss.

I took biotin for a few months to try to combat alopecia universalis and did not see any regrowth. Therefore, I do think that this is not a miracle cure. It does have great reviews and works well for people whose hair may just need a bit of a boost in growth.

 

High Potency Biotin at a Glance…

Name: Sports Research High Potency Biotin 5000 mcg

Website: Amazon.com

Owners:Sports Research

Price: $14.20

Overall Scam Rank: 90 out of 100

VERDICT: LEGIT! This is a supplement that has helped people improve their hair growth IF their hair already grows. It will not work for people who are suffering from alopecia or male pattern baldness.

Tweaking the Ketogenic Diet for Women

The ketogenic diet is exploding in popularity. It is no longer simply reserved for treating children with intractable epilepsy or solely the province of cutting edge bodybuilders. The ketogenic diet has become so popular that you’ll hear about it in grocery stores, coffee shops, spin classes, business meetings and youtube channels. The ketogenic diet does have some special concerns for women. Most women may take special precautions when implementing a ketogenic diet.

The greatest benefit of the ketogenic diet can be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for women. With an increase of satiety, there can often be an inadvertent reduction in caloric intake. You have higher quality nutrition and foods and they are very filling. You may end up eating fewer calories because all the food is so nourishing.

However, premenopausal women can have an increased sensitivity to reduced calories than others. Biology is concerned with your fertility and your ability to reproduce. Many women on the ketogenic diet report an increase in fertility due to the ketogenic diet. This may not be the case if you are restricting your calories. So, it is important to pay attention to your menstrual cycle and any changes that may occur as you embark on the ketogenic diet.

With that in mind, how can women avoid the common pitfalls that occur on the ketogenic diet?

1. Eat Some Extra Fat Initially

Eating extra fat has three effects. First, it will up regulate the construction of your fat burning machinery. It will hasten the adaption of your mitochondria to the new fuel source by boosting AMPK. Second, it will help to ensure that you don’t have a caloric deficit. It sends your body a signal of abundance, which means that it won’t dive into metabolic conservation mode and hang onto its fat stores. Finally, you’ll get a psychological boost. You’ll realize that you can eat more fat than you thought and still experience weight loss and health benefits.

You don’t need this big increase in fat. As you get better at generating and burning ketones, you’ll be able to listen to your body’s needs and determine if you need to eat more.

ketogenic diet for women

2. Take a Long-Term Approach

ketogenic diet for women - long term approach

Many people decide they want to start the ketogenic diet and test it out for a week or two. This approach can fail. It is important to understand that the ketogenic diet takes time to work its magic. Additionally, by drastically cutting off carbs, your body can have a shock of an adjustment period, especially when it comes to hormones. Instead of cutting your carbs to 20 carbs per day, you may want to start by transitioning to a low-carb Paleo diet where you consume 100 carbs per day one week and then drop to 50 the next and then the following week drop them again to 25 carbs. This gives your body an adjustment period. You may not feel the negative effects of the dreaded “keto flu” as badly if you transition gradually.

This slower, long-term approach does not mean that you are failing at it or won’t lose weight. It could take about 3 months to achieve ketosis, but you are ushering in a dramatic change to your body’s fuel source gently. This allows your hormones to compensate.

 

3. Be Flexible with Your Macros

After you achieve ketosis, your carb needs may change based on hormone fluctuation, age or activity level. For example, menopause may throw things into chaos for a brief amount of time and may signal a need fore more or fewer carbs to feel energetic and great. That’s fine. Listen to your body’s signals.

It is important to remember that your macros (the ratio of macronutrients of fats, carbs and proteins) are not set in stone. In fact, as you lose weight, you will need to adjust these ranges to fit your body’s changing needs. As your activity level changes or your stress level changes, you could require different ratios of macronutrients.

The ketogenic diet is not a one size fits all or “set it and forget it” diet plan. You need to get in touch with how you’re feeling, what you’re eating and become focused on more than the number on the scale as a defining factor of success.

4. Track Changes with A Wellness Journal

ketogenic diet for women - journal tracking

For some people the changes that occur with your body during the ketogenic diet happen slowly. Other people will see rapid results. It is helpful to get a ketogenic journal and track your own personal changes. This improves your ability to listen to your body as you make dietary changes. It is also the very best way to determine if this diet is working for you.

Use your ketogenic diet journal to keep track of your foods and macros as well as any other bodily changes. You will want to also write down any food reactions that you may be experiencing and fluctuations in energy levels. You may not notice much in your day to day entries, but if you look over weeks or months, you’ll start to see patterns emerge and it will help you identify what is working and what doesn’t. Nutrition professionals always have their clients use food journals to gather this valuable information.

As you keep your journal, it is essential that you are honest with yourself. Write down both the good and the bad. Don’t be more committed to the dietary program than you are to discovering what makes your body function at its best. It is okay if you need a few more or few fewer carbohydrates than someone else.

5. Stay Hydrated

One of the most common problems with the ketogenic diet is that it eliminates a lot of foods that are filled with electrolytes and fluids, such as potatoes, citrus fruits, and raw honey. It also eliminates a lot of processed foods that have loads of salt, which causes your body to retain water. For this reason, dehydration in the initial phases of the ketogenic diet can be a problem for many people. Keeping track of your water intake and other fluid balance is essential.

There is no hard and fast rule for how much water you should consume per day. Everyone has a different activity level and body type. A good starting point is to aim to drink half your body weight (measured in pounds) in water (in ounces). For example, a 150 pound woman will start with drinking 75 ounces of water per day. She will then use her thirst as a guide to adjust the amount of water that she drinks.

Some people notice that they have leg cramps. This can be a sign that you are dehydrated or need additional electrolytes. Many people who are on the ketogenic diet will make sure that they consume electrolytes in addition to their daily water consumption. Pickle juice is often recommended, but some also make sure they salt their foods with unprocessed sea salt to get minerals.

ketogenic diet for women - stay hydrated

Check out my other resources on the ketogenic diet:

Free Bacon and Butter Cookbook

Ketogenic Crustless Quiche Recipe

 

 

 

 

Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine Review

Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine 1500mg Review

Name: Turmeric Curcumin[easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”n” identifier=”B01DBTFO98″ locale=”US” tag=”mcurle08-20″]

Website: Available at Amazon.com

Price: $17.95 ($0.20 / Count)

Owners: Schwartz

Overall Rank: 90 out of 100

Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine, Product Overview

  • 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: Feel healthier and stronger or your money back, no questions asked!
  • HIGHEST POTENCY AVAILABLE TURMERIC PILLS ENHANCED WITH BIOPERINE: BioSchwartz turmeric formula has 1500mg of Turmeric Curcumin with 95% Standardized Curcuminoids per serving (Highest Potency) and 10mg of BioPerine (black pepper, curcumin with black pepper) for enhanced absorption and bio-availability.
  • ALL NATURAL, NON-GMO, FILLERS, BINDERS OR PRESERVATIVES: Our professional grade turmeric with bioperine (curcumin with bioperine) is natural turmeric powder and has better absorption than turmeric tea. Our Curcumin is also FREE Of gluten, soy, milk, egg, shellfish, corn, wheat, and peanuts.
  • DOCTOR FORMULATED MADE IN USA TURMERIC CAPSULES: Our Turmeric Extract (the authentic Turmeric Curcumin Schwartz) is formulated by doctors and manufactured in the USA in an FDA-approved facility following strict GMP guidelines. Our turmeric with bioperine is third Party Tested to assure the highest quality and purity of each batch.
  • HIGHEST QUALITY INGREDIENTS: Not only is our turmeric curcumin supplement more potent, we use patented BioPerine (10mg per serving) for increased absorption and bioavailability. Turmeric with black pepper is essential in good curcumin supplements (turmeric supplement). We only use pure and raw ingredients in all our formulas.

 

The Good & the Bad

The Good:

  1. Anecdotal evidence from users states that it will help improve arthritis symptoms.
  2. Swift relief. Users reported feeling relief from arthritis symptoms within 2 weeks.
  3. Customers have also reported relief with autoimmune conditions, such as Psoriasis.
  4. This is an all natural solution and great home remedy to use instead of over the counter medications, such as Advil.
  5. Free from fillers and preservatives.

The Bad:

  1. There were users with negative reactions to the Turmeric Curcumin. One experienced digestive distress and burning bowel movements, other experienced gas and constipation.
  2. 1 serving is 3 pills which only gives you 150mg of 95% curcumanoid extract. To feel the benefits of the extract, you need 400-500 mg. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the dosage.
  3. Some users did not notice any benefit from taking the Turmeric Curcumin.

Who is Turmeric Curcurmin with Bioperine for?

The people who seem to benefit most from this product are people with rheumatoid arthritis. Other autoimmune conditions don’t seem to have the same level of anecdotal evidence for relieving pain.

82% of reviewers gave this product five stars. Most of these reviewers were reporting relief from their arthritis symptoms. Many of them reported that their symptoms were improved and they received better relief than with over the counter medication.

Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine Support

You can send Bio Schwartz an email through their contact page, which is located at:

https://bioschwartz.com/pages/contact-us

Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine Price

When purchasing Turmeric Curcumin through Amazon, you will pay $17.95 ($0.20 / Count). You can unlock a 15% savings if you opt for the subscribe and save program and have it shipped to you on a monthly basis. This will ensure that you don’t run out of the supplement as well.

My Final Opinion of Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine[easyazon_image align=”right” cart=”n” height=”500″ identifier=”B01DBTFO98″ locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61ZoMhRgQxL.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”355″]

I don’t believe that most people who are following a carnivore or ketogenic diet will ever need this product. The reason for inflammation is often due to an over consumption of carbohydrates. While Turmeric does have a calming effect on inflammation, it doesn’t always have a positive impact on every person, as we can see through the digestive distress that it cause some of the users.

While the majority of the people gave this product a 5 star review, it is possible that many of those reviews were based on receiving the product free, as this is a common marketing strategy. I would suspect this is the case due to the vast number of reviews of this product.

This product is probably pretty good for someone who is unwilling to reduce inflammation by changing their diet. It does provide a hope of relief for people with arthritis pain.

Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine at a Glance…

Name: Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine

Website: Bioschwartz.com

Owners: Bioschwartz

Price: $17.95 ($0.20 / Count)

Overall Scam Rank: 90 out of 100

VERDICT: LEGIT – This is a good product for the average individual who wants to try to get immediate (within 2 weeks) relief of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. It doesn’t seem to do much for other autoimmune conditions. Overall reports seem to be positive.

The Ketogenic Diet and Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet for the treatment of epilepsy is one of the oldest forms of medical treatment for epilepsy. Ketogenic diet centers have traditionally specialized in treating children under 18 years of age. There is growing evidence that shows that the ketogenic diet has usefulness in controlling seizures in adults. Most people don’t recommend that you try the ketogenic diet on your own. It is recommended that you attempt it with the support of a trained medical team. However, you can try it on your own if you are currently on medication and simply want to improve your results. There are many resources online to help you reduce your carbohydrate intake.

 

The Ketogenic Diet For Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet is a high fat, adequate protein, and low carbohydrate diet that has been used to control difficult forms of epilepsy. There are many versions of the ketogenic diet, but the basic principles are the same – reduce your intake of carbohydrates and increase your intake of fats. The diet may be adapted for cultural diversities, allergies and tube feeding. It is a therapy for both children and adults.

The ketogenic diet does have some side effects. As you start the diet, you may notice some flu like symptoms. This usually only lasts for a few days to a week while your body adjusts to running on fats. You may also notice more side effects from your medication. As you work with your medical professional, they may decide they want to adjust your medication. Therefore, it is important to let your doctor know that you are doing the diet.

The first few weeks of starting the ketogenic diet therapy can be a bit stressful. It is important to have a great support network. There are many people online in forums and groups that can support you through this diet from a practical and emotional standpoint.

During the ketogenic diet, you’ll need to learn to prepare meals differently. This can take time and effort. You may also face some difficulty while adapting to new meals. However, there are now plenty of ketogenic recipes that are creative that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. In time, you will adapt to the significant changes. The meal preparation and time will become easier. Many families cope well with the challenges and would agree that the hard work is well worth the effort that they took to change because it significantly reduces the seizures.

 

Ketosis and Epilepsy

Ketosis is the state of the body burning fats for energy. When the body burns fats for energy, it produces ketones. Ketones have a neuroprotective effect on the body. When you fast, your body starts to rely on stored fat for energy and produce ketones. Fasting has been known for years to reduce seizure frequency. Ketones are produced during extended periods of fasting. Often when a fast is broken with foods that contain carbohydrates, the seizures return. Of course, you can’t fast forever.

Since the ketogenic diet puts you into ketosis through consistently reduced carbohydrates, adequate protein and high fat, it mimics the fasting state. Ketones are an indicator of an important metabolic change. However, ketones alone will not explain the anti-seizure effect of ketosis. Researchers are still studying the mechanisms to better explain why this diet reduces seizures.

 

The Ketogenic Diet for Adults with Epilepsy

For decades, the ketogenic diet was only offered to children. It was assumed that a ketogenic diet would not work for adults. However, there is growing evidence that demonstrates its usefulness in controlling seizures in adults with medically refractory epilepsy. The ketogenic diet started in 1920 with New York physician, Dr. Galen. He reported at the American Medical Association convention that he had significant success in treating epilepsy by initiating a program of fasting. During that time, the only pharmaceutical interventions were phenobarbital and bromides. The patient Dr. Galen treated was a young cousin who had aggressive seizures. On the second day of fasting, the child’s epilepsy abated. It did not return over the next two years. Additional studies in 1923, 1926 and 1928 all confirmed the effectiveness of fasting as a treatment for seizures.

Some adults may be started on a classic ketogenic diet, while others may be trained in the modified ketogenic or Atkins diet, which allows more freedom in dietary choices. It affords them the ability to still enjoy going out to restaurants while maintaining this dietary therapy. Adults with epilepsy can successfully remain on this diet and gain great control of their seizures with proper training and motivation. Even though there is some flexibility on adult ketogenic diets, studies demonstrate that compliance is still low, which is one reason that it isn’t recommended.

The main treatment for epilepsy is pharmaceutical intervention, especially for adults. There are more and more surgical procedures which are being performed for these individuals who don’t have success with drugs. However, it could be that a dietary change, such as the ketogenic diet may be the answer. For many of these individuals, they are gluten sensitive and may benefit from a gluten-free diet. Avoiding foods that may be triggers, can be very helpful to people who have epilepsy.

Across all studies, 32% of KD-treated and 29% of MAD-treated patients achieved ≥ 50% seizure reduction, including 9% and 5%, respectively, of patients with >90% seizure frequency reduction. The effect persists long term, but, unlike in children, may not outlast treatment.

 

Efficacy of the Ketogenic Diet for Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet can be very effective in treating individuals with epilepsy, whether it is from infancy through adulthood. It has been demonstrated that up to 60% of children who try a supervised ketogenic diet will experience a 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency. For adults, 40-50% who try a supervised ketogenic diet experience 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency.

The ketogenic diet and the modified Atkins diet for seizures do show modest efficacy. In some patients the effect is excellent. However, the diet often is discontinued because it is very restrictive. However, in patients who are willing to try the dietary treatment, the effect is seen rapidly.

The ketogenic diet may be successful due to the elimination of carbohydrates that are irritating to your nervous system. Many foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates, also contain neurotoxins such as gluten. Processed foods also irritate the gut lining and may be creating a condition known as “leaky gut syndrome”. This allows undigested food to leak into the bloodstream and cross through the blood brain barrier, which may be triggering seizures.

 

How Soon Before You See Improvement in Seizures

The seizure reduction that happens with the ketogenic diet can occur very soon after it is initiated, or it may take several months. It is important to remain committed to the diet and work with your medical doctors, who will help you fine tune the diet to achieve the best seizure control. Commitment and consistency to the ketogenic diet is one of the most important things to determine the effectiveness in controlling seizures. Joining support groups can greatly help you stay committed and consistent with your ketogenic diet.

You can get started with a free ketogenic cookbook. Try out some of the recipes on your own and see if it is for you!

 

 

 

 

 

Quest Protein Bar Review

Quest Protein Bar Review[easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”n” identifier=”B016MEN0PE” locale=”US” tag=”mcurle08-20″]

Name: Quest Bar

Website: available at Amazon.com

Price: $28.17 ($1.11 / Ounce)

Owners: Quest Nutrition

Overall Rank: 80 out of 100

Quest Protein Bar, Product Overview

Quest bars are protein bars that are very popular with the ketogenic dieters. Every quest bar has at least 20 grams of protein and less than 7 net carbohydrates. They are a very convenient way to get in your protein as you are on the go, especially great for hiking and outdoors activities.

Quest bars are created with scientifically beneficial ingredients. Quest Nutrition uses a blend of milk and whey protein isolates. Therefore, in every bar there is cleaner protein without the excess carbohydrates, fat and junk that is common in most protein bars.

Quest nutrition protein bars contain thirteen grams of dietary fiber. Fiber is helpful in reducing the absorption of carbohydrates and slowing down the digestion. It also increases metabolism. One Quest bar can provide you with 1/4 of your daily recommended fiber intake.

Quest nutrition protein bars are versatile enough to be used as ingredients. You can actually microwave them for ten seconds to make them a hot and delicious treat. Get creative with your protein bars!

The Good & the Bad

The Good:

  1. They are convenient. You can take these protein bars on the go with you and have a ketogenic snack or meal replacement at the ready.
  2. They fit into a ketogenic diet. These bars are not too high in carbohydrates. You can stay low carb and even in ketosis on these protein bars.
  3. Quest nutrition bars taste pretty good. They don’t taste quite like a candy bar, but some of the flavors are enjoyable.
  4. Gluten and Soy Free. Gluten and soy are two of the most inflammatory ingredients that you can eat. Many people have allergies to them, so it is great that these ingredients were left out of Quest Nutrition Protein Bars.

The Bad:

  1. The ingredients are not that great. You are eating a processed protein blend instead of real meat and naturally occurring protein.
  2. It also has soluble corn fiber in it. Who needs that?
  3. It contains erythritol, a sugar alcohol. You’ll still have some negative effects of sugar, but not all of them. It won’t spike your blood sugar.
  4. It contains sugar alternatives stevia and sucralose. These are highly refined foods.
  5. It is processed in a facility that also processes eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat and other tree nuts.

Who are Quest Nutrition Bars for?

These bars are great for athletes who want to stay on the ketogenic diet, but may need some nutrition that is easy to eat on the go. The bars are easy to carry with you and convenient for snacking.

I do not recommend these bars for people who are doing the ketogenic diet due to a health condition. The corn fiber, sugar alcohols and the fact that they are produced in a facility that processes peanuts, soy, wheat and eggs means that they can be harmful for people with autoimmune conditions and food sensitivities.

 

Quest Nutrition Support

Questions about the Quest Nutrition Protein Bars? You can email them at support@questnutrition.com or give them a call at 888-212-0601 from 6:00am PST to 6:00pm PST.

Quest Nutrition, LLC

Attn: Consumer Engagement

777 S Aviation Blvd., Ste. 100

El Segundo, CA, 90245

Quest Nutrition Bars Price

For a processed food protein bar, this is competitively priced. You can purchase a box of 12 for $28 on Amazon. This is a little over $2 per bar. However, the amount of protein in each bar will keep you full for hours.

My Final Opinion of Quest Nutrition Protein Bars

When I was starting out on the ketogenic diet, I purchased a box of these. Initially, I felt like the flavor and texture was a little off. However, after the first one or two, I found that they could be quite enjoyable. They weren’t quite as tasty as a candy bar, but they had more flavor than cardboard.

However, I pause to recommend these products. They will not lead your body to heal and seal the gut lining, as Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride insists is important in the GAPS diet. They will fit into your macros on a ketogenic diet, but the ingredients are not optimal. Due to the fact that some of the ingredients aren’t optimal, you may notice that you aren’t healing from your autoimmune conditions. You may be losing weight, but healing would be slow with corn fiber sticking around in your diet.

They received a rating of 80 out of 100 from me due to the positive reviews on Amazon. There are many people who like the taste of them and fit them into their diet. Additionally, it is currently one of Amazon’s best-sellers in health and nutrition.

 

Quest Nutrition Bars at a Glance…[easyazon_image align=”right” cart=”n” height=”500″ identifier=”B07BN53LBC” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61V30c1p5dL.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”500″]

Name: Quest Nutrition Bars

Website: questnutrition.com

Owners: Quest Nutrition

Price: $28.17 ($1.11 / Ounce)

Overall Scam Rank: 80 out of 100

VERDICT: LEGIT! These are decent protein bars. Don’t expect too much from them.

Exploring the Zero Carb Way of Eating

When my neighbor, an ophthalmologist, was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. He made drastic changes to his diet. He had been 30 pounds overweight and eating whatever he pleased. However, a diagnosis of pre-diabetes motivated him to change his lifestyle habits. We were surprised to hear what he was doing based on the fact that he was a medical doctor. He cut out carbohydrates drastically. His motto was “no carbohydrate is a good carbohydrate”.

zero carb way of eating

My neighbor was able to reverse his diagnosis. We joked about the diet for years, but his weight normalized and so did his blood sugars. He focused mostly on eating chicken and broccoli (so, he wasn’t zero carb, but pretty close to it.) We were amazed that such a simple diet produced drastic results.

What is a Zero Carbohydrate Diet?

Traditionally, those who practice a Zero Carb diet are eating everything in their diet from the animal kingdom. They do not consider plant foods to be food. There are many vegetable oils that can damage your health with unnatural omega 6 ratios. Many of the long time practitioners stress a preference for beef in their diet. They find it to be the most satiating of all the meets. Zero Carb-ers also eat pork, bacon, sausage, lamb poultry, fish, hard cheese and eggs. Most dairy products will contain significant quantities of carbohydrates, so zero carb-ers tend to avoid them. Lean meat may not be as filling as meat that has a good amount of fat, therefore if the meat that zero carb-ers eat is too lean, they may add extra butter, ghee, tallow or lard.

The reasoning behind a zero carbohydrate diet is that carbohydrates tend to create inflammation in the body. All diseases have a degree of inflammation. In order to reduce the inflammation in the body, you must eliminate the consumption of inflammation causing foods, these actually are carbohydrates. All plant foods contain certain anti-nutrients that make them difficult to digest. The lectins found in nuts can be inflammatory to some people. Others may have difficulty with goitrogenic foods (broccoli, cauliflower). Goitrogenic foods can lower the thyroid function. The oxylates in leafy greens can also create kidney stones, so even that spinach that you were told to eat may not have been the best thing for you.[easyazon_image align=”right” cart=”n” height=”500″ identifier=”1548697192″ locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VbhkpN3KL.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”333″]

Meats, on the other hand, don’t require the perfect gut microbiome to be digested. They aren’t full of fiber that can’t be digested and just gets pooped out. Meat is a complete protein and full of all the nutrients that your body needs to survive. For this reason, zero carb dieters thrive on meats. Some people have had some incredible healing from going to a meat-based diet.

Who is the Zero Carb Way of Eating For?

This is for everyone. Unfortunately, most people won’t bother to change their way of eating unless prompted to by a pending health condition, such as my neighbor did. The people who will see the most immediate benefits from zero carb eating will be people who have autoimmune conditions, overweight individuals, and people who are suffering from diabetes. These individuals will be the most motivated to change their diets. Overweight individuals will likely see their weight drop to a normal size quite quickly. While individuals with autoimmune conditions may take a few months to see some progress and healing from their disease.

 

Six Tips for Zero Carb Way of Eating From James Hogan

1) Eat only from the animal kingdom. Meat, eggs, and dairy will be your diet. No carbs. You may even want to skip the dairy as some of it will have carbohydrates. Dairy can also be somewhat difficult for some people to digest.

2) Stay full. As long as you eat meat, eggs and dairy until you are full, you won’t feel the temptation to eat things you shouldn’t.

3) Eat enough fat. Don’t be stingy with the bacon! Fat keeps you full and gives you plenty of energy.

4) Avoid all sweet tastes. This is going to be difficult for many people at first, but it is the fastest way to kill the cravings of sweets and sweet foods. The best thing to do is set a short term goal of about a week to avoid sweet foods. After that, you’ll feel confident that you can do it long term.

5) Drink water only when you’re thirsty. We have been taught to overhydrate ourselves. While eating plants, it can be beneficial to wash some of the antinutrients out of our body with excess water, but on the Zero Carb diet, you don’t want to be peeing out essential minerals. Seltzer water, unsweetened tea, unsweetened coffee are used by many zero carbers. Each individual will decide what is best for them. There is no benefit to forcing down gallons of water each day. Simply follow the rule of drinking when you are thirsty and stopping when you’re not.

6) Don’t count calories. Simply eat when you’re hungry and stop when you are full. You may find that you need to eat more on days that you’re more active and less on days when you aren’t.

 

Zero Carbohydrate Resources

There are plenty of people who are following a Zero Carbohydrate diet. Dr. Shawn Baker has made it popular lately, but Jordan Peterson and his daughter have recovered from severe depression using a meat-only diet. You may want to look into reading up more on it before you dive into a zero carbohydrate diet, which is great. There are plenty of resources for you.

One thing that I would recommend doing is checking out some of the Facebook groups that revolve around the zero carb diet. These include the following:

You may also want to check out some of the healing stories and testimonials on sites such as:

  1. Zero Carb Zen
  2. Zero Carb Health

 

Neocell Super Collagen C Powder Review

Neocell Super Collagen C Powder Review

Name: Neocell Super Collagen C
Website: Available at Amazon.com[easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”n” identifier=”B0011DJ71I” locale=”US” tag=”mcurle08-20″]
Price: $12.07 ($1.72 / Ounce)
Owners: Neocell
Overall Rank: 90 out of 100

Neocell Super Collagen, Product Overview

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is found in bones, skin, muscles, eyes, nails, ligaments, tendons, joints and hair. Increasing the amount of collagen in your diet can improve conditions in these areas.

As you age, the collagen supplies and the ability to regenerate them will decrease. This in turn compromises the structural integrity of these systems. Collagen fibers weak and can break down. This will contribute to common signs of aging. You may noticed wrinkles and joint pain.

Structure

Collagen provides the primary structural component for every tissue in the body. It provides strength, tenacity and resilience.

Regeneration

Collagen helps with the regeneration process and forming new tissue in the body. Depending on where it is in the body, collagen will form the basis for rock hard bones or soft, pliable skin. Collagen builds the bone matrix. It is the mechanical strength of the bone.

Collagen corrects weak, broken, split, ridged and damaged nail beds. Collagen can help to thicken fine hair. It is also useful in repairing connective tissues, which will improve elasticity, improve circulation in the blood vessels and promote wound healing and a clearer complexion.

Collagen is useful for increasing skin firmness and hydration.

 

 

The Good & the Bad

The Good:

  1. 69% Positive five star reviews on Amazon. The majority of the customers were happy with the quality and price of this product.
  2. Reportedly helps to fill in fine lines and wrinkles.
  3. Helps to regrow hair that has thinned out due to nutrient deficiency.
  4. Many customers report faster growing hair and nails within a few weeks.

The Bad:

  1. Some customers report receiving a bad batch with a funny smell and taste.
  2. Unfortunately, there is no return policy for this product.
  3. Some customers did not notice a difference in their hair and nails using this product.

Who is Neocell Super Collagen Powder For?

Most people will benefit from this product. As a society, we don’t tend to consume enough collagen to rebuild our bodies. The art of making homemade broth and soups has been lost due to convenience and with it we have been missing out on vital nutrients such as collagen that help to improve the health of hair, nails and skin.

This is ideal for anyone who is following the Gut and Psychology Syndrome Diet and wants to heal and seal their intestinal lining in order to improve their overall health. A scoop of collagen powder per day in your soup or tea will help you to get the necessary collagen that will help to repair your gut.

This is ideal for people who are interested in only eating grass-fed animal products. While there are other gelatin and collagen products, they are usually from conventionally raised animals. Grass-fed animals tend to have higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals.

[easyazon_image align=”right” cart=”n” height=”500″ identifier=”B0011DJ71I” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511VHuhZiAL.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”500″]

 

Neocell Collagen Powder Support

You can contact the makers of Neocell Collagen C powder via email through their website at neocell.com. There is a contact form on their website to send them an email.

If you’d like to contact them through snail mail, their address is:

Nutranext, Corporate Offices
NeoCell | 1301 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway
Sunrise, FL | 33323

Neocell Collagen Powder Price

Since this product is a higher quality than standard collagen, it is priced a bit higher. However, grassfed animals do contain more vitamins and nutrients than conventionally raised animals. It is a higher quality product. It is $1.72 per ounce. However, you probably only need a teaspoon per day. This jar should last you about a month.

It is worth paying a little bit extra to support the grassfed industry. The animals are getting a better quality of life and they are eating grass, which is better for them than grains.

My Final Opinion of Neocell Collagen Powder

While I do recommend that you get your nutrition from whole foods, this is a great product for individuals who aren’t interested in making their own soups and bone broths. There are many days when I just don’t have the time to cook. I love adding collagen to my morning tea when I’m too lazy to make a batch of soup. It does help to get the collagen into my diet. I have noticed that my fine lines look like they are smoother.

 

Neocell Collagen Powder at a Glance…

Name: Neocell Collagen Powder C

Website: neocell.com
Owners: Neocell
Price: $1.72 per ounce
Overall Scam Rank: 90 out of 100

VERDICT: LEGIT – This is a great product for improving the health of your gut. It will help to smooth out your fine lines and wrinkles. Some users have even reported that their hair and nails are healthier when they are taking this product.

Exploring the 21st century science behind CBD

Exploring the 21st century science behind CBD

Cannabis is one of the most interesting plants on the planet, that our ancestors have had a long and complex history with. And now today, we understand the herb on a level that the ancient world would never have considered: a scientific one. And as the microscope has focused in on cannabis over the past century, we have learned much about it, even despite the barriers to research that prohibition has unfortunately brought.

For thousands of years, we have known that cannabis can alter our state of consciousness, and that the plant has therapeutic properties which help to improve our health. We are now aware that the medicinal qualities of cannabis come overwhelmingly from a set of unusual compounds called cannabinoids and, to a lesser extent, terpenes, aroma molecules that are well-represented in other plant species. However, it is the cannabinoids that have intrigued researchers most, and Israeli chemists Dr Raphael Mechoulam, Dr Yechiel Gaoni, Dr Habib Edery and others have offered ground-breaking insights into what these chemicals do.

In the 1960s, Mechoulam and co paid close interest to two cannabinoids in particular: cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (CBD and THC). While CBD is our main focus in this article, it is important to first understand the development in our knowledge of THC, as this explains why CBD can also have a medicinal effect on the body.

THC, anandamide and the endocannabinoid system THC is not merely a psychoactive cannabinoid, but a very potent one. THC was first isolated by Mechoulam and his team in 1964, and this was the first time that the psychoactive properties of cannabis had been connected to a single compound. This was important, and after defining the chemical structure of the cannabinoid, the Israelis had a stepping stone to working out why THC affects the body in the way that it does.

Almost 30 years later, a neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid known as anandamide, or the ‘human THC’ was found, marking a successful research product for Mechoulam, who was attempting to discover if the body endogenously produces a chemical akin to THC.

The identification of anandamide in the early 1990s came alongside the discovery of the endocannabinoid system. This has been absolutely critical for the progression of cannabis science, as it has demonstrated that cannabinoids function in a system independent from those that we already knew of. The endocannabinoid system appears to have two key receptors (CB1 and CB2) that can modulate sleep cycles, immune system response, mood, stress, appetite, reproductive cycles and pain perception.

Both THC and anandamide connect with the CB1 receptor, causing changes in mood. The reason why THC makes us “high” and anandamide doesn’t is that THC is not so easily broken down by the body, as opposed to anandamide which is speedily degraded by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme.

How CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system

This brings us neatly back to CBD, a cannabinoid that works with the endocannabinoid system in a more nuanced way to THC, but in a manner that is arguably more effective. Every system tries to maintain equilibrium, so that the body can remain in a pleasant state of homeostasis, that brings physical and emotional balance. However, if just one of the mechanisms in the endocannabinoid system gets out of sync, this can have an adverse, knock-on effect on our health. For instance, it is the role of endocannabinoids to manage inflammation, so that the immune system doesn’t go into overdrive and attack the body (this happens with autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis).

But while THC affects cannabinoid receptors by hijacking them, CBD produces an array of indirect effects that helps to sort out imbalances in the endocannabinoid system. For instance, CBD can block enzymes that break down endocannabinoids, reduce or amplify the effects of compounds that bind to receptors by acting as a negative or positive allosteric modulator to the receptor, and also by correcting endocannabinoid signaling issues. Let’s look at how CBD’s interactions can have a noticeably beneficial effect on our mental and physical health.

CBD promotes anandamide

The body needs antidepressant anandamide for many reasons, but this neurotransmitter could be especially important for treating symptoms of depression. With anandamide binding to the CB1 receptor and boosting mood as a result, the most logical way of treating depression via the endocannabinoid system is by increasing the presence of anandamide. While CBD cannot create new anandamide molecules, it can protect the anandamide already in the body by inhibiting the FAAH enzyme. With major depressive disorder affecting more than 16 million Americans in 2016, it’s clear that novel treatments are needed for the condition, which is typically managed with SSRIs – unfortunately, this class of antidepressant causes side effects and fails to work for many patients. Additional studies are needed to confirm the effects of increased anandamide as facilitated by CBD, and also if the cannabinoid functions in other networks – one study suggests CBD interacts with a serotonin receptor. To enjoy a quick boost in mood, a fast-intake method such as vaping CBD e-liquid is recommended. However, all types of CBD can – at various speeds – help to relax the body, relieve anxiety and elevate mood.

CBD for psychosis

Psychosis is a serious mental health disorder that can cause hallucinations and delusions. In the past, cannabis was often accused of making conditions like psychosis worse, but research into CBD suggests that it can mitigate symptoms by acting as a negative allosteric modulator to the CB1 receptor. This effect was first realized when looking at the reactions between THC and the CB1 receptor – research showed that THC psychoactivity was reduced when CBD was also present.

The effectiveness of approved antipsychotic drugs is limited, and patients often report symptoms of shakiness, restlessness and sleepiness. However, a study of 88 psychosis patients showed that CBD reduced symptoms yet produced no side effects – the investigation involved CBD and a placebo, and the researchers were initially unable to tell which group had been given which treatment.

Final thoughts

There are many more benefits to CBD, although for now clinical trials prevent us from making solid claims about the compound’s properties. However, patients with anxiety, inflammation, neuropathic pain and more are reporting positive results from self-medicating with CBD products, such as CBD gummy bears, CBD lollipops and even CBD chocolate.

<<Click Here to read an Overview of CBD>>

An overview of CBD

An overview of CBD

Cannabis is back in mainstream society, yet as a totally different plant from the one that was synonymous with the 1960s and the hippie era. While still popular as a recreational substance, the medicinal benefits of the herb are of more interest nowadays, with scientific, technological and political developments carving out a market for non-psychoactive cannabis products made with cannabidiol (CBD), a component of cannabis with several therapeutic uses, but no psychoactive properties.

The non-psychoactive attribute of CBD has helped fuel the popularity of CBD-based products. Previously, medical cannabis has struggled to gain traction as a viable treatment for various health conditions, as the “high” from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) made the herb easy to abuse and become mentally dependent on. Studies have also shown that the body becomes desensitized to THC with excessive consumption, causing those who do become hooked to seek out stronger and stronger fixes. But, cannabis advocates are always keen to point out that THC does have unique medical qualities that are sometimes necessary – in the case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), THC is effective at deleting flashbacks from memory.

Thankfully, none of this happens with CBD, and even though the compound does help to improve mood and can be rather relaxing in large quantities, the World Health Organization (WHO) has decided it has “no abuse potential,” after the WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence met in late 2017. Furthermore, CBD has a remarkably low toxicity, meaning it’s perfectly okay to take very strong doses if that’s what is necessary to provide relief – research has found that the body can easily tolerate 1,000mg of CBD over 24 hours. Meanwhile, a first-time user would probably need no more than 10 to 20mg.

CBD products are also safe for all ages, and do not come with the horrible side effects that many painkillers, anti-inflammatories and antidepressant treatments do. In fact, the suitability of CBD-rich cannabis oil for children with medication-resistant epilepsy has been the most positive cannabis-related story in the news media this decade. The first wave of interest into CBD came in 2013, following Dr Sanjay Gupta’s Weed documentary for CNN, which showcased the modernizing world of medical cannabis, and featured some human-interest stories on child patients with epilepsy.

One type of epilepsy that has proven treatable with CBD is Dravet’s syndrome, a complex condition that can cause more than 100 seizures per week. This was a reality for a young Colorado girl named Charlotte Figi, who had difficulty talking, eating and walking because of the debilitating effect of the seizures. However, after her parents stumbled across a story of a Californian child patient with Dravet’s enjoying successful results from CBD treatment, they pushed so Charlotte could have the same. The CBD worked, and the seizures started to reduce in frequency and severity from the first dose – now, Charlotte suffers from just a couple of seizures per month, and these mostly occur in her sleep.

It is these extraordinary medical scenarios that have helped to advance the more general argument for medical cannabis, and as of 2018, 46 states out of 50 (and Washington D.C.) have brought in at least one piece of cannabis legislation. Some states have gone for full legalization, whereas others like Alabama currently only permit cannabis treatment as part of a study (the University of Alabama at Birmingham is investigating the effectiveness of CBD oil against epilepsy).

<<Click Here to read Exploring the 21st Century Science Behind CBD>>