Health Benefits of OBW Oil - Internet Research

------OILS: MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES - COCONUT - AVOCADO - OREGANO - CINNAMON - KERNEL - HEMP SEED ------MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES: ------Source: http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/medium-chain-triglycerides-mcts-the--that-makes-you-lose-fat

Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs): The fat that makes you lose fat Fat has gotten a bad rap. But the truth is, we need fat in order to live. We need essential fatty acids for healthy; brain function, immune system, hormone production, and cellular energy production.

We also need the calories that provide for energy.

But not all fats are alike. Some clog our arteries and some contribute to inflammation in the body. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), also known as medium-chain fatty acids, have a surprising list of benefits that may even outshine some benefits provided by the fatty acids in olive oil. MCTs actually provide fewer calories than other fats, and they even help you lose weight.

For instance, in a study that included 49 overweight men and women (aged 19-50), the participants who consumed a medium-chain triglyceride oil as part of a 16-week weight loss program lost more weight and fat mass than the group that consumed olive oil.

What are medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)? MCTs are fatty acids that are naturally found in coconut and palm oil, and ghee (clarified butter). They are also available as a dietary supplement packaged in a bottle or in capsules.

Medium-chain triglycerides were first used in the mid-1900s in conjunction with a prescribed diet to reduce seizures. MCTs were originally formulated in the 1950s as an alternative food source for patients unable to digest normal fats and oils. More recently, MCTs have become a favorite energy source for endurance athletes.

MCTs have far-reaching health benefits. Who could benefit? Anyone who:

• has had major surgery and needs to boost cellular energy • wants to enhance his/her athletic performance • wants to support healthy growth and development • wants to support cardiovascular health • wants to lose weight and keep it off • wants to support mental clarity

The advantages of medium-chain triglycerides over long-chain triglycerides Fat molecules are made up of chains of carbon atoms. Long-chain fatty acids (LCTs), which make up the bulk of the Standard American Diet (SAD), range in length from 16 to 24 carbons. But MCTs are composed of only 4 to 14 carbon links.

MCTs cannot make you fat! Because they have fewer carbon atoms, MCTs have a number of advantages over LCTs. Although MCTs are fat, and feel like fat in your mouth, they cannot make you fat. They resemble carbohydrates more than fat, are easy to digest, and are burned as energy— so there is no where for them to go, and no place for you body to store them.

According to Bruce Fife, N.D., author of The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil, (Piccadilly Books, 2000) "All fats, whether they be saturated or unsaturated, from a cow or from corn, contain the same number of calories. The medium-chain fatty acids (MCTs), however, are different. They contain a little less and actually yield fewer calories than other fats."

Easier to digest The first step in digestion of a fat such as butter is to dissolve it into the watery content of the intestine. The bile acids produced by the liver dissolve fat into tiny droplets and allow pancreatic and intestinal enzymes to break the large fat molecules into smaller ones, such as fatty acids.

The bile acids combine with the fatty acids and cholesterol and help these molecules move into the cells of the mucosa. In these cells the small molecules are formed back into large ones, most of which pass into vessels called lymphatics near the intestine. These small vessels carry the reformed fat to the veins of the chest, and the blood carries the fat to storage deposits throughout the body.2 If your body requires the fat for energy, it is removed from storage and used as fuel. But if you don’t need it, it eventually ends up as “love handles” or “fat tires.”

Medium chain triglycerides are digested and utilized differently than other fatty acids. Instead of being packaged into lipoproteins that circulate in the bloodstream, they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the portal vein, and are then transported to the liver. Because they don’t need bile or pancreatic enzymes to break down, they are easier to digest. And because they are easier to digest, they provide your body with quick energy, like carbohydrates.

Since MCTs are utilized quickly as energy, they are not stored as fat—unless of course you over consume calories. Numerous studies have shown that ingesting MCTs contributes to weight loss and a reduction in fat.

MCTs are good for your heart It’s a misconception that all fat is bad for your heart. Your heart needs fatty acids to provide it with energy. Medium-chain fatty acids (medium-chain triglycerides) are metabolized more like carbohydrates than fats and researchers and practitioners are finding positive results from the clinical application of MCT therapy in the management of cardiac disease. Current experimental evidence supports the idea that the diseased heart is energy deficient and that MCTs can provide the stressed and deficient cells with an alternate energy source.3

(Second Page) Source: http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/medium-chain-triglycerides-mcts-the-fat-that-makes-you-lose-fat/page-2

In one study, MCTs significantly lowered plasma triglycerides versus LCTs. When 20 healthy men ingested a single dose of either 71 g of MCT oil or canola oil blood samples showed that triglyceride levels increased 47% after ingesting canola oil. But triglyceride values decreased 15% after ingesting MCT oil, which is consistent with several other studies involving short- and longer-term feeding with MCT oil. The effect of long-term usage of MCT oil on triglycerides is yet to be established.

MCTs decrease body fat and hunger Studies indicate that because MCTs are metabolized more quickly calories are burned up in the process. Most animal studies have also demonstrated that after several months of consuming MCTs, this greater energy expenditure results in less weight gain and a decrease in fat deposits.

Both animal and human trials suggest that you get full faster when you ingest MCTs compared with long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), so you eat less. The best news is that this leads to lower body fat mass and could provide a healthy way to maintain desirable weight.5

Substituting moderate amounts of medium-chain triglycerides for other fats in a weight-loss program results in enhanced weight loss and a greater reduction in fat mass. The key here is to not just add MCTs to your diet, but to substitute them for other fats in your diet.

• In one study, researchers compared single meals of 400 calories composed entirely of MCTs and of LCTs. The thermogenic effect of MCTs over six hours was three times greater than that of LCTs. Researchers concluded that substituting MCTs for LCTs would produce weight loss as long as the calorie intake remained the same.

• A study at the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Quebec, Canada measured the effects that a 28-day diet rich in MCTs versus a diet rich in LCTs had on 24 overweight men. At the end of the study the men who consumed the diet high in MCTs lost more upper body fat than the men who consumed the diet high in LCTs. There was also a trend toward greater loss of whole-body fat with the MCTs. The researchers concluded that MCTs could be an aid in the prevention of obesity because they help stimulate weight loss.

• The study mentioned at the beginning of this article, in which the consumption of MCTs were found to promote weight loss when compared to the long chain triglycerides in olive oil, is an interesting one. In the 16-week study 31 overweight patients consumed 10 grams per day of either olive oil or medium-chain triglyceride oil in muffins. In addition, women consumed another 8 grams per day of their assigned oil and men consumed an additional 14 grams per day.

All subjects participated in weekly weight-loss counseling sessions that stressed consumption of a low-energy-intensity diet, encouraged healthy eating patterns, and set a target energy intake of 1,500 calories a day for the women and 1,800 calories a day for the men.

At 16 weeks, the MCT group had lost significantly more weight: an average of 3.2 kg, or 3.8% of their baseline body weight, compared with 1.7% in the olive oil group. The MCT group also had a 1.5% decrease in total fat mass as measured by a CT scan, including a reduction in trunk fat mass in intra-abdominal adipose tissue; fat mass was unchanged in the comparison group. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of change in waist circumference, lipid levels or fasting glucose or insulin levels.

MCTs might support cognition in memory-impaired adults Your brain and body requires glucose to function. When you haven't eaten for a while, or during the night when you're asleep, your liver releases stored glucose to keep you supplied with energy. In Alzheimer's disease there appears to be a pathological decrease in the brain's ability to use glucose. Research suggests that ketones are an effective alternative energy source for the brain. Studies show that raising ketone levels through an oral dose of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) might improve cognitive functioning in older adults with memory disorders.

Ketones are compounds in which a carbonyl group is bonded to two carbon atoms, R2C=O, where R can be a variety of atoms and groups of atoms, excluding hydrogen atoms. Ketones are a by-product of the breakdown of fat in the body, and show up in urine. Ketone levels increase when you don’t have enough insulin to turn glucose into energy (as in diabetes), when you are experiencing intense illness or stress, or when you are eating a low amount of carbohydrates. The body is tuned to use carbs for energy when available, and use dietary fat to store as fat for use in winter.

Ketones are also produced when you don’t eat for several days and your body is in starvation mode. When this happens your body breaks down stored fat to get energy, since it isn’t getting sufficient glucose in the form of food. Ketones can be used as alternative source of energy by your brain.

In an Alzheimer’s (AD) study, 20 patients with AD or mild cognitive impairment consumed a drink containing MCTs or placebo. Significant increases in ketone levels were observed 90 minutes later in the MCT group, when cognitive tests were given. The participants with the higher ketone levels showed greater improvement in paragraph recall and in the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Sub-scale. This study is encouraging and warrants additional research to determine the therapeutic benefits of MCTs for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

MCTs improve mitochondrial function and might prevent build-up of amyloid plaque—a culprit in Alzheimer’s disease A recent animal study indicates that MCTs might help decrease amyloid plaque in the Alzheimer’s brain. Based on the same premise as in the above study, that ketones provide an alternate energy source for the brain, animals were given a daily dose of MCTs for two months. The animals showed dramatically improved mitochondrial function, indicated by increased active respiration rates. Also, the amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) levels decreased after short-term MCT intake. Combined, these findings suggest that short- term MCT administration improves energy metabolism and decreases APP levels in animal models, and could serve as the basis of testing on humans with Alzheimer’s disease.

Conclusion The bulk of studies on medium-chain triglycerides have been in the area of weight loss and fat reduction. However, lots of other research is being done demonstrating how MCTs could benefit chronically ill patients with diabetes, cancer, seizures, HIV and cystic fibrosis.

In the meantime, taking medium-chain triglycerides in the form of a supplement or coconut oil is an easy way to boost your energy, reduce adipose fat, and control your weight—which is something we all would be wise to do.

------COCONUT OIL: (back to top) ------Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/22/coconut-oil-and-saturated-fats-can-make-you-healthy.aspx

By Dr. Mercola

You've no doubt noticed that for about the last 60 years, the majority of health care officials and the media have been telling you saturated fats are bad for your health and lead to a host of negative consequences, like elevated cholesterol, obesity, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Meanwhile during this same 60 years the American levels of heart disease, obesity, elevated serum cholesterol, and Alzheimer's have skyrocketed compared to our ancestors, and even compared to modern-day primitive societies using saturated fat as a dietary staple.

Did you know that multiple studies on Pacific Island populations, who get 30-60% of their total caloric intact from fully saturated coconut oil, have all shown nearly non-existent rates of cardiovascular disease?

Clearly, a lot of confusion and contradictory evidence exists on the subject of saturated fats, even among health care professionals.

But I'm going to tell you something that public health officials and the media aren't telling you.

The fact is, all saturated fats are not created equal. The operative word here is "created," because some saturated fats occur naturally, while other fats are artificially manipulated into a saturated state through the man-made process called hydrogenation.

Hydrogenation manipulates vegetable and seed oils by adding hydrogen atoms while heating the oil, producing a rancid, thickened oil that really only benefits processed food shelf life and corporate profits.

The medical and scientific communities are now fairly united in the opinion that hydrogenated vegetable and seed oils should be avoided.

These unsaturated fats, artificially manipulated into saturated fats, are also called trans fats, and no doubt you've heard about them lately. Some cities and states have now outlawed their use. There is no controversy anymore regarding the health dangers of these artificially saturated fats.

And guess what? These are the same damaged trans fats that have been touted as "healthy" and "heart-friendly" for the last 60 years by the vegetable and seed oil interests!

But the truth finally came out. Trans fat was rebuked, debunked, and revealed as the true enemy to good health that it has always been, regardless of what the seed and shills told the American public for the last half century.

Unfortunately, this rightful vilification of hydrogenated saturated fats has created a lot of confusion regarding naturally occurring saturated fats, including coconut oil.

If one form of saturated fat is bad for you, the argument goes, then all saturated fat must be bad. Right? Nothing could be further from the truth! The Truth About Coconut Oil

The truth about coconut oil is obvious to anyone who has studied the health of those who live in traditional tropical cultures, where coconut has been a nutritious diet staple for thousands of years.

Back in the 1930's, a dentist named Dr. Weston Price traveled throughout the South Pacific, examining traditional diets and their effect on dental and overall health. He found that those eating diets high in coconut products were healthy and trim, despite the high fat concentration in their diet, and that heart disease was virtually non-existent.

Similarly, in 1981, researchers studied populations of two Polynesian atolls. Coconut was the chief source of caloric energy in both groups. The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, demonstrated that both populations exhibited positive vascular health.

In fact, no evidence exists that the naturally occurring high saturated fat intake had any kind of harmful effect in these populations!

That's not what you expected, is it? Based on 60 years of negative public policy toward naturally occurring saturated fats, you would expect these cultures to be rife with clogged arteries, obesity, and heart disease.

It may be surprising for you to realize that the naturally occurring saturated fat in coconut oil actually has some amazing health benefits, such as:

• Promoting your heart health • Promoting weight loss, when needed • Supporting your immune system health • Supporting a healthy metabolism • Providing you with an immediate energy source • Keeping your skin healthy and youthful looking • Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland

But how is this possible? Does coconut oil have some secret ingredients not found in other saturated fats? The answer is a resounding "yes."

Coconut Oil's Secret Ingredient

50 percent of the fat content in coconut oil is a fat rarely found in nature called lauric acid. If you're a frequent reader of my newsletter, you already know that I consider lauric acid a "miracle" ingredient because of its unique health-promoting properties.

Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoa properties. Monolaurin is a monoglyceride that can actually destroy lipid coated viruses such as:

• HIV, herpes • Measles • Influenza virus • Various pathogenic bacteria • Protozoa such as giardia lamblia

Lauric acid is a powerful virus and gram-negative bacteria destroyer, and coconut oil contains the most lauric acid of any substance on Earth! Capric acid, another coconut fatty acid present in smaller amounts, has also been added to the list of coconut's antimicrobial components. This is one of the key reasons you should consider consuming coconut oil, because there aren't many sources of monolaurin in our diet. But the health benefits of coconut oil don't stop there.

The Benefits of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids

Coconut oil is about 2/3 medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. These types of fatty acids produce a whole host of health benefits. Coconut oil is nature's richest source of these healthy MCFAs. By contrast, most common vegetable or seed oils comprise long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), also known as long-chain triglycerides or LCTs. Let me tell you why these long-chain fatty acids are not as healthy for you as the MCFAs found in coconut oil:

• LCFAs are difficult for your body to break down -- they require special enzymes for digestion. • LCFAs put more strain on your pancreas, liver, and your entire digestive system. • LCFAs are predominantly stored in your body as fat. • LCFAs can be deposited within your arteries in lipid forms such as cholesterol. • In contrast to LFCAs, the MCFAs found in coconut oil have many health benefits, including the following beneficial qualities: • MCFAs are smaller. They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body. • MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system. • MCFAs are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat. • MCFAs actually help stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss. Coconut Oil Helps Fight Diabetes

Your body sends medium-chain fatty acids directly to your liver to use as energy. This makes coconut oil a powerful source of instant energy to your body, a function usually served in the diet by simple carbohydrates. But although coconut oil and simple carbohydrates share the ability to deliver quick energy to your body, they differ in one crucial respect. Coconut oil does not produce an insulin spike in your bloodstream. You read that correctly: coconut oil acts on your body like a carbohydrate, without any of the debilitating insulin-related effects associated with long-term high carbohydrate consumption!

Diabetics and those with pre-diabetes conditions (an exploding health epidemic in America), should immediately realize the benefit of a fast-acting energy source that doesn't produce an insulin spike in your body. In fact, coconut oil added to the diets of diabetics and pre-diabetics has actually been shown to help stabilize weight gain, which can dramatically decrease your likelihood of getting adult onset type-2 diabetes.

Coconut Oil: A Friend to Athletes and Dieters

If you live in the United States, you have an almost 70 percent chance of being overweight. And, by now, I'm sure you're well aware that obesity affects your quality of life and is linked to many health concerns. One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to help stimulate your metabolism. Back in the 1940s, farmers found out about this effect by accident when they tried using inexpensive coconut oil to fatten their livestock. It didn't work! Instead, coconut oil made the animals lean, active, and hungry.

However, many animal and human research studies have demonstrated that replacing LCFAs with MCFAs results in both decreased body weight and reduced fat deposition. In fact, the ability of MCFAs to be easily digested, to help stimulate the metabolism and be turned into energy has entered the sports arena. Several studies have now shown that MCFAs can enhance physical or athletic performance.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. And you've probably heard that a sluggish thyroid is one reason why some people are unable to lose weight, no matter what they do.

Besides weight loss, there are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. Your healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old cells, and your immune system functions better overall.

Coconut Oil on Your Skin

Besides the mounting medical and scientific evidence that coconut oil has powerful positive health benefits when eaten, it has also been used for decades by professional massage therapists to knead away tight stressed muscles. However, you don't have to be a professional massage therapist to gain the skin and tissue support benefits of coconut oil. Just use coconut oil as you would any lotion.

Coconut oil is actually ideal for skin care. It helps protect your skin from the aging effects of free radicals, and can help improve the appearance of skin with its anti-aging benefits. In fact, physiologist and biochemist Ray Peat, Ph.D. considers coconut oil an antioxidant, due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formation. Plus, he believes it reduces our need for the antioxidant protection of vitamin E.

Like Dr. Peat, many experts believe coconut oil may help restore more youthful-looking skin. When coconut oil is absorbed into your skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep your connective tissues strong and supple, and aids in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making your skin smoother.

Coconut Oil and Your Heart

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. And heart disease is often a silent killer. The first sign of cardiovascular disease is commonly a heart attack, and sadly, over one-third of heart attacks are fatal. And despite the propaganda, the truth is this: it is UNSATURATED fats that are primarily involved in heart disease, not the naturally occurring saturated fats, as you have been led to believe. Plus, the polyunsaturated fats in vegetable and seed oils encourage the formation of blood clots by increasing platelet stickiness. Coconut oil helps to promote normal platelet function.

Coconut Oil in Your Kitchen

I only use two oils in my food preparation. The first, extra-virgin olive oil, is a better monounsaturated fat that works great as a salad dressing. However, it should not be used for cooking. Due to its chemical structure, heat makes it susceptible to oxidative damage. And polyunsaturated fats, which include common vegetable oils such as corn, soy, safflower, sunflower, and canola, are absolutely the worst oils to use in cooking. These omega-6 oils are highly susceptible to heat damage because of their double bonds.I strongly urge you to throw out those omega-6 vegetable oils in your cabinets.

Why?

Reason # 1: Most people believe that frying creates trans-fat. That is not the major problem, in my opinion. Although some are created, they are relatively minor. There are FAR more toxic chemicals produced by frying omega-6 oils than trans-fat. Frying destroys the antioxidants in oil and as a result oxidizes the oil. This causes cross-linking, cyclization, double-bond shifts, fragmentation, and polymerization of oils that cause far more damage than trans-fat.

Reason # 2: Most of the vegetable oils are GMO. This would include over 90 percent of the soy, corn, and canola oils.

Reason # 3: Vegetable oils contribute to the overabundance of damaged omega-6 fats in your diet, which creates an imbalance in the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. As you know from my extensive writing on this subject, I believe that excessive consumption of damaged omega-6 fats contributes to many health concerns.

They are all highly processed and consumed in amounts that are about 100 times more than our ancestors did a century ago. This causes them to distort the sensitive omega-6/omega-3 ratio that controls many delicate biochemical pathways, which results in accelerating many chronic degenerative diseases.

There is only one oil that is stable enough to resist mild heat-induced damage, while it also helps you promote heart health and even supports weight loss and thyroid function -- coconut oil.

So, whenever you need an oil to cook with, use coconut oil instead of butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, margarine, or any other type of oil called for in recipes. Even though I don't fully recommend frying foods, if you must fry, by all means use coconut oil -- it's your smartest choice.

Coconut Oil Safety

The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are considered so nutritious that they are used in baby formulas, and in hospitals to feed the critically ill, those on tube feeding, and those with digestive problems. Coconut oil has even been used successfully by doctors in treating aluminum poisoning. Coconut oil is exceptionally helpful for pregnant women, nursing moms, the elderly, those concerned about digestive health, athletes (even weekend warriors), and those of you who just want to enhance your overall health.

------AVOCADO OIL: (back to top) ------Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/17/avocado-benefits.aspx

By Dr. Mercola

You probably know that avocados are an excellent source of healthful fats, but this whole food may also have other unique health benefits.

To learn more, the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is supporting clinical research to investigate various health effects of avocado consumption, particularly its benefits for cardiovascular disease, weight management, diabetes, and its ability to enhance your body's absorption of nutrients.

The first of these HAB-supported studies was published in November, 2012. The small UCLA-led pilot study found that eating one- half of a fresh medium Hass avocado with a hamburger (made with 90 percent lean beef) significantly inhibited the production of the inflammatory compound Interleukin-6 (IL-6), compared to eating a burger without fresh avocado.

According to lead author David Heber, MD, PhD, the findings offer "promising clues" about avocado's ability to benefit vascular function and heart health. As reported by Medical News Today:

"The researchers observed a significant peak (approximately a 70 percent increase), of IL-6 four hours after the plain burger was eaten, but less effect on IL-6 (approximately a 40 percent increase) over the same time period when fresh avocado was eaten with the burger.

Additionally, the study found that when fresh Hass avocado was eaten with the burger it did not increase triglyceride levels beyond what was observed after eating the burger alone, despite the extra calories and fat from the fresh avocado...

The pilot study also reported that the difference in peripheral arterial blood flow (the movement of blood to different parts of the body, as measured by PAT), a predictor of vascular health, after eating the hamburger meal compared to the hamburger-fresh avocado meal was approaching statistical significance...

PAT scores significantly decreased (signifying reduced blood flow) only after the plain burger was eaten (approximately a 27 percent drop, on average) compared to a burger with fresh avocado (approximately a 4 percent drop, on average, signifying less reduction in blood flow)."

Avocados – A Real 'Super Food'

Avocados, which are actually classified as a fruit, are rich in monounsaturated fat that is easily burned for energy. Personally, I eat a whole avocado virtually every day, which I usually put in my salad. This increases my healthy fat and calorie intake without seriously increasing my protein or carbohydrate intake. (See Nutrition Facts Panel below.) It is also very high in potassium and will help balance your vitally important potassium to sodium ratio.

As I've mentioned before, eliminating grain carbs is one of the best ways to support your health and maintain your weight, but when you cut down on carbs, you need to increase your intake of healthy fats. Avocados are an excellent source, along with organic raw butter, coconut oil, and organic pastured eggs, just to name a few.

There's also evidence suggesting that limiting your intake of protein can be helpful for long-term good health and the prevention of cancer. At the very least, most people are consuming far too much poor-quality protein, such as beef and animal products from livestock raised in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Here again, if you cut down on protein, you need to replace lost calories with healthy fats such as avocados, coconut oil, olives, olive oil, butter and nuts.

Overall, most people would do well to get upwards of 50-70 percent fat in their diet (along with high amounts of vegetable carbs, moderate-to-low amounts of high-quality protein, and very little, if any, carbs). According to the California Avocado Commission, a medium Hass avocado contains about 22.5 grams of fat, two-thirds of which is monounsaturated. They're also very low in fructose, which is yet another boon, and provide close to 20 essential health-boosting nutrients, including:

• Fiber • Potassium (more than twice the amount found in a banana) • Vitamin E • B-vitamins • Folic acid Avocados are one of the safest fruits you can buy conventionally-grown,and most experts do not believe you need to purchase organic ones. Their thick skin protects the inner fruit from pesticides. Additionally, it has been rated as one of the safest commercial crops in terms of pesticide exposure, so there's no real need to spend extra money on organic avocados, unless you can afford it.

The Many Health Benefits of Avocados

Avocados have a long list of potential health benefits. For example, besides its anti-inflammatory properties, previous research from Japan suggests this powerful fruit may also help protect against liver damage. In one study, laboratory rats were fed avocado and 22 other fruits. The rats were then given D-galactosamine, a potent liver toxin that interferes with cell synthesis and results in cell death. The rats fed avocado suffered the least amount of liver damage. The chemical-induced liver injuries resemble those caused by viruses, so the researchers suggested avocado could potentially offer support in the treatment of viral hepatitis. According to one lead author Hirokazu Kawagishi, Ph.D:

"Besides offering taste and nutrition, avocados seem to improve liver health. People should eat more of them."

Due to its beneficial raw fat content, avocado enables your body to more efficiently absorb fat-soluble nutrients (such as alpha- and beta-carotene and lutein) in other foods eaten in conjunction. One 2005 study, found that adding avocado to salad allowed the volunteers to absorb three to five times more carotenoids antioxidant molecules, which help protect your body against free radical damage. Other research has found that avocados:

• Contain compounds that appear to inhibit and destroy oral cancer cells. • Can help improve lipid profiles in both healthy individuals and those with non optimized HDL/ total cholesterol levels). In one study, healthy individuals saw a 16 percent decrease of serum total cholesterol level following a one-week long diet high in monounsaturated fat from avocados. In those with elevated cholesterol levels, the avocado diet resulted in a 17 percent decrease of serum total cholesterol, and a 22 percent decrease of both LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, along with an 11 percent increase of the so-called "good" HDL cholesterol.

------OREGANO OIL: (back to top) ------Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/01/oregano-health-benefits.aspx

By Dr. Mercola

Oregano is a wonderful herb, both to use in your cooking and to use therapeutically as needed. Its name means "mountain joy," and oregano was revered as a symbol of happiness by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

This is why drawings often depict brides and grooms of the time crowned with a laurel of oregano, which was a widespread tradition. Although oregano is popular in Mediterranean cuisine, in the US, it's often associated primarily with a pizza spice.

This does this medicinal herb a great disservice, since today we know that oregano contains vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, calcium, and potassium. Additionally, oregano, which is sometimes called "wild marjoram" in Europe (and is closely related to the herb sweet marjoram) contains potent phytochemicals that provide potential health benefits.

The Top 5 Health Benefits of Oregano

1. Antioxidants for Immune System Support One active agent in oregano is rosmarinic acid, which is a strong antioxidant that may support immune system health. Oregano has one of the highest antioxidant activity ratings, with 42 times the antioxidant punch of apples. According to one study:

"…intake of herbs [including oregano] may…contribute significantly to the total intake of plant antioxidants, and be an even better source of dietary antioxidants than many other food groups such as fruits, berries, cereals, and vegetables."

2. Antifungal, Antibacterial, and May Even Kill MRSA Carvacol and thymol, two phytochemicals in oregano, are powerful antimicrobials. Research has shown essential oils from oregano may kill the foodborne pathogen Listeria and the superbug MRSA (making it a useful addition to hand soaps and disinfectants). According to one of the researchers involved in the MRSA study:

"We have done a few preliminary tests and have found that the essential oil from the oregano kills MRSA at a dilution 1 to 1,000. The tests show that the oil kills MRSA both as a liquid and as a vapor and its antimicrobial activity is not diminished by heating in boiling water."

Studies have also found essential oils of oregano to be useful against certain Candida species.

3. Anti-inflammatory Properties Oregano contains beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP), a substance that inhibits inflammation and may also be beneficial for conditions including osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis, as well as metabolic syndrome.

4. Useful for Upper Respiratory Infections Oregano also has potential anti-viral activity, and a spray containing aromatic essential oils from five plants, including oregano, was found to significantly relieve symptoms "immediately" in those with upper respiratory infections.

If you come down with a cold or the flu, oregano oil can also be useful. Generally, the higher the carvacrol concentration, the more effective it is. Interestingly, oregano encourages sweat production as a mode of detox, and ingesting it may help your body to get rid of unwanted phlegm in your lungs.

5. Cancer-Fighting Effects Oregano extract has been shown to "lead to growth arrest and cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner" in colon cancer cells. A phytochemical in oregano, carnosol, has also been "evaluated for anti-cancer property in prostate, breast, skin, leukemia, and colon cancer with promising results."

In the chart below, you can browse through 15 additional conditions that oregano may be useful for.

Cold Muscle pain Acne Dandruff Bronchitis Toothache Bloating Headaches Heart conditions Allergies Intestinal parasites Earache Fatigue Repelling insects Menstrual cramps

Oregano Oil Is a Wonderful Addition to Your Natural Medicine Chest

In addition to its culinary uses, oregano oil may be useful for fighting off many types of infections, making it a useful home remedy. For instance, the anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and antifungal properties in oregano oil may be useful for:

• Inhibiting the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, which may cause respiratory infections. It may also fight multi-drug resistant bacteria. • Urinary tract infections (UTIs), because it inhibits the growth of E. Coli, Proteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteria that may cause UTIs. • Yeast infections, including those that are resistant to the commonly used drug Diflucan. • Parasitic infections. Oregano oil has been shown to be more effective against the parasitic amoeba Giardia than the drug tinidazol. • Food-borne illness. Many food-borne pathogens, including Listeria, Salmonella, E. Coli, and Shigella dysenteria are inhibited by oregano oil. Not only may adding the oil to foods help to kill such bacteria, but using the oil if you have food poisoning may help to alleviate your symptoms. You can use oregano oil in a variety of ways, depending on your health needs:

• Topically for athlete's foot or nail fungus. Try soaking your feet in a basin of water with a few teaspoons of oil, or rubbing the diluted oil (1 drop of oil in a teaspoon of olive or coconut oil) on your nails/skin. • Inhaled to treat sinus infections or colds. Simply put a few drops of oregano oil in a pot of steaming water. Carefully inhale the steam, being careful not to get burned. • Under your tongue to help treat infections or parasites. Dilute the oil (1 drop of oil with 1 drop of a carrier oil) and place one or two diluted drops under your tongue. Hold it for a few minutes, then rinse your mouth with water. Repeat up to four times a day.

------CINNAMON BARK OIL: (back to top) ------Source: http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/cinnamon-bark-oil.aspx By Dr. Mercola

Beyond its wonderful scent and flavor, cinnamon bark oil also offers an array of therapeutic and healing benefits. In Ayurvedic medicine, cinnamon bark was used as an antiemetic, antidiarrheal, anti-flatulence, and a general stimulant. Here's what you need to know about this essential oil.

What Is Cinnamon Bark Oil?

Cinnamon bark oil is obtained from the bark of trees that belong to the Cinnamomum species (also called Cinnamon zeylanicum), which comprise more than 250 aromatic evergreen trees and shrubs located all throughout Asia and Australia. Cassia oil, sassafras, and Ho leaf oils fall under the same category.

Cinnamon bark oil is quite rare and expensive. From 1983 to 1992, exports from Sri Lanka, which is virtually the only major supplier of cinnamon bark oil, only reached 2.8 tons.1 Western Europe, especially France, is the major importer of cinnamon bark oil, followed by the United States.

Uses of Cinnamon Bark Oil

Cinnamon bark oil has a delicate aroma and a sweet, pungent taste. It is typically used as a flavoring in toothpaste to hide the disagreeable taste of pyrophosphate, a compound that inhibits plaque calcification.

In Ayurvedic medicine, cinnamon bark was used as an antiemetic, antidiarrheal, anti-flatulence, and a general stimulant. Today, cinnamon bark oil has been proven to naturally:

• Lower cholesterol • Kill bacteria • Heal wounds • Control blood sugar levels • Relieve stomach flu caused by harmful bacteria like salmonella

Because of its honeyed taste and smell, cinnamon bark oil is frequently added in meat and fast food seasonings, sauces and pickles, baked goods, confectionery, cola-type beverages, and tobacco. However, cinnamon bark oil is seldom used as a main ingredient in perfumes and soaps because it has skin-sensitizing properties.

Composition of Cinnamon Bark Oil

Cinnamon bark oil has no less than 90 identified compounds and over 50 minute unidentified compounds.6 It contains about 65 to 75 percent cinnamon aldehyde and four to 10 percent eugenol compared to cinnamon leaf oil, which contains 70 to 75 percent eugenol and only three percent cinnamon aldehyde.7 Unlike cinnamon bark oil, cinnamon leaf oil gives off a warm, spicy, and sometimes foul scent, and does not have a smooth consistency. Usually, the higher the cinnamaldehyde content of the cinnamon bark oil, the higher its price. In the USA, the Essential Oil Association (EOA) standard specifies an aldehyde content of 55 to 78 percent.8 But there is no international standard set for cinnamon bark oil.

Cinnamon bark oil is significantly more expensive than cinnamon leaf oil and probably among all essential oils. In 1992, cinnamon bark oil is sold at 385 US dollars per kilogram, essentially due to the raw material's high cost. But by 1993 and early 1994, dealers in London only quoted prices upon request.

Benefits of Cinnamon Bark Oil

Most therapeutic uses of cinnamon bark are rooted in its historical use as a traditional Chinese medicine. According to many research, cinnamon bark oil can potentially help:

• Fight serious viral diseases like herpes9 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) • Kill leukemia cancer cells as observed in animal testing due to the fungus Antrodia cinnamonea • Reverse the symptoms of Parkinson's disease • Treat fungal infections, including those caused by Candida albicans, Histoplasma, and Aspergillus niger, which is known to cause serious sinus infection • Counter cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, a severe form of dementia, which almost 5.4 million Americans are suffering from right now. Check out my article on Alzheimer's and discover how you can save yourself from this debilitating condition.

German health authorities approve the use of cinnamon bark oil for treating mild gastrointestinal spasms, stimulating appetite, and relieving indigestion based on the positive results seen in animal studies. How Does Cinnamon Bark Oil Work?

To relieve stomach upset, a few drops of cinnamon bark oil into a hot cup of water or tea will do the trick. Nevertheless, I strongly suggest consulting your doctor or a natural health practitioner before taking cinnamon bark oil or any essential oil internally.

For aromatherapy applications, put a few drops of cinnamon bark oil in your diffuser along with a few of your favorite essential oils. Cinnamon bark oil blends well with bergamot, cardamom, clove, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, marjoram, nutmeg, orange, peppermint, peru balsam, petitgrain, rose, vanilla, coconut oil, and ylang-ylang.

Is Cinnamon Bark Oil Safe?

Cinnamon bark oil has cinnamonaldehyde, which, in high amounts and when used improperly on a daily basis, can be toxic to your body.16 In addition, cinnamon bark oil has strong psychological effects, which could possibly cause adverse nervous system reactions. This is why it's highly recommended to blend it with other essential oils during oral, topical, and aromatherapy applications.

Cinnamon bark oil is relatively safe when used in small dosages and blended with mild carrier oils. Do not attempt to use it as an everyday supplement without an expert's advice, especially if you have an existing illness.

Pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid using cinnamon bark oil or any form of essential oil as much as possible to avoid negative consequences.

Side Effects of Cinnamon Bark Oil

Cinnamon bark oil causes different reactions in different people, especially sensitive individuals. Here's a list of some of its reported side effects:

• Skin sensitization • Dermocaustic effect (burning) on skin • Nausea • Headache • Heart palpitations, especially when taken with coffee or black tea • Hypertension While cinnamon bark oil provides heaps of health benefits, I highly recommend that you see a natural holistic practitioner before incorporating it into your treatment protocol, to stay on the safe side.

------APRICOT KERNEL OIL: (back to top) ------Source: http://betterinviolet.hubpages.com/hub/Introduction-to-Apricot-Kernel-Oil-Properties-Uses-and-Benefits

By Better in Violet

What is Apricot Kernel Oil

The apricot, or Prunus armeniaca, is a small, sweet-tasting fruit that has been grown commercially in Europe and Asia for many centuries. can be enjoyed on their own, in desserts, or even savory dishes. What you may not know about apricots is that the oil from their pits, called kernels, also has a range of excellent health benefits. Apricot kernel oil, which is rich in vitamin B17, can be commonly found in health stores and is easy to incorporate into your regular diet.

Benefits

As you probably already know, doctors recommend choosing foods rich in unsaturated fats over those with saturated fats, since these "bad" fats are associated with an increased cancer risk and heart disease. Fortunately, apricot kernel oil is an excellent source of unsaturated fats, such as oleic and linoleic acids.

There are two types of "good" unsaturated fats: polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. Both are better than traditional saturated fats, such as butter and animal fats, because they provide omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids, which can help improve heart health and decrease cholesterol levels. As an added bonus, apricot oil also contains plenty of vitamins A, C, and E, which are excellent for skin and hair health.

Controversy over apricot kernels

Food-grade apricot kernel oil is safe to consume and has numerous health benefits. But there's still plenty of controversy over apricot kernels. The truth is that the kernels themselves contain a chemical compound called . When ingested, certain enzymes in your body convert the amygdalin to hydrogen cyanide, which can actually lead to fatal cyanide poisoning. Despite the health risks, apricot kernels have been used in alternative medicine for many decades, specifically as a cancer cure. Many alternative medicine experts claim that the kernels can help shrink tumors, reduce the physical effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and help boost vitamin levels and the immune system.

Conventional doctors, however, claim that kernels as a cancer medication are not effective. Although many studies have been done on apricot kernels as a treatment, most notably at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the 1970s, there's still no official documentation confirming it actually works. In fact, over the past decade, the controversy surrounding apricot kernels has only increased. Laetrile, which shares many molecular similarities with amygdalin, has actually been banned on the commercial market in the United States, and the Food and Drug Administration has not approved either substance as an effective treatment of disease.

Uses of apricot kernel oil

Despite the controversy over apricot kernels, many people still regularly incorporate apricot kernel oil, or the seeds themselves, into their diet. The greatest danger appears to stem from eating the raw bitter kernels in large amounts. Some health organizations, such as the British Food Standards Agency, have released bulletins advising the public not to consume more than a handful or so of kernels a day.

Cold-pressed apricot kernel oil, however, has many conventional uses and is widely accepted as a safe oil for both cooking and body care.

Salad dressings Apricot kernel oil is a highly refined oil which easily absorbs the flavors of other ingredients. The oil can be used as a stand-alone salad dressing, or mixed with other flavors, such as mustard or vinegar, to create a delicious condiment for veggies or meats.

Hair care If you have exceptionally dry hair, then apricot kernel oil can be a life-saver. Using a small amount of oil on your tips adds shine and helps cure split ends. It can also be used on the roots of the hair to soothe the scalp and promote hair growth. Feel free to use apricot kernel oil alone, or in combination with your regular shampoo or conditioner.

Skin care Lastly, apricot oil is often found in beauty products since it easily absorbs into skin and won't leave it feeling overly sticky. Using apricot kernel oil for at-home skin care is easy: simply squeeze a small amount into your palm and then apply it anywhere that feels dry or scaly. A dime-sized amount of oil is a great way to re-moisturize and soften skin after showering or bathing. Apricot oil is also often used in commercial face lotions because of its anti-aging properties. In addition, it's proven to reduce bumps and red marks on the skin and can be used to treat sunburn, razor burn, eczema and psoriasis.

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Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/1807/1/Benefits-of-Apricot-Kernel-Oil.html

By Kevin Pederson

Benefits of Apricot Kernel Oil

World over people use massage therapy to help promote healthy skin, nourish and strengthen the body, relieve stress, reduce pain, and encourage balance and well being. Massage opens and increases the flow of energy, balancing the entire nervous system and helping to release physical and emotional disharmony. The many benefits of massage are enhanced by the use of high quality massage oil.

Apricot tree is the member of the rose family originating from Central and East Asia. The fruit, rich in vitamins is used to produce the pleasant smelling Apricot Kernel Oil. Apricot Kernel Oil is very mild natural oil, often used in baby products because of its fine gentle nature.

Apricot kernel oil is cold pressed and refined from the dried kernels of the apricot fruit. It is light in color with pleasant nutty odor and used in manufacturer of creams, balms, lotions and cosmetics.

Sought out for its high vitamin E content and skin softening properties, apricot kernel oil is known for its ability to penetrate the skin without leaving an oily feel. Apricot kernel oil is also popular as massage oil and it used as carrier oil when used with essential oils for aromatherapy.

Rich in essential fatty acids like oleic and , apricot kernel oil is high in vitamin A. Since it easily penetrates the skin, it is good oil for prematurely aged, dry or irritated skin. The excellent softening and moisturizing properties is great for face, hands and hair. Vitamins A & C are good for mature dry or sensitive skin. The apricot kernel oil helps skin retain elasticity, clarity, and suppleness. Crushed Apricot Kernels are commonly used as a facial mask to soften the skin.

In addition, Apricot Kernel Oil is used as an antitussive, anti-asthmatic and to treat tumors in traditional Chinese medicine. It helps to calm the inflammation / irritation of eczema and dermatitis. When combined with an equal amount of St. John's Wort Oil, it is acts as anti-inflammatory and has a cooling effect.

Due to its moisturizing, nourishing and revitalizing properties, apricot kernel oil is widely used for massage therapy. Face Mask Formula - A soft paste made of 2 drops each of frankincense, rose and neroli oils, 6 tsp of apricot oil, 1 tsp clear melted honey and finely ground makes a good moisturizing face mask.

For nourished, soft and supple skin, rub apricot kernel oil on your body daily.

Acne Fusion - Pour 1 ounce of apricot kernel oil, 12 drops of lavender essential oil, 7 drops of tea tree essential oil and 1 drop of geranium essential oil in amber colored clean bottle. Close it tightly and roll the bottle to mix the blend. Apply a small amount of this blend to the acne affected area.

------HEMP SEED OIL: (back to top) ------Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/05/07/medical-marijuana-becoming-blockbuster-drug.aspx

By Dr. Mercola

Hemp is healthy

Hemp seeds pack a powerful nutritional punch. Two tablespoons of shelled hemp seeds contain about 11 grams of protein and 2 grams of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. And, as TreeHugger reported, hemp seeds have a “ "perfectly balanced 1:3 ratio of naturally-occurring omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids...unlike other seeds and nutritional oils, such as flax …”

------2nd Source for Hemp Seed Oil ------

Source: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/5-health-benefits-of-hemp-seed-oil/

By Dr. Edward F. Group III

5 Health Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil is a great source of high-quality nutrients and has a long history of use in Eastern culture as a multi-purpose natural remedy. Despite its widespread popularity, prejudice related to its association with cannabis has kept it from common use in the West. While the oil contains virtually no THC, the psychoactive element in cannabis, hemp oil is still considered sketchy to some. Thankfully, education is prevailing and the market for hemp seed oil is growing in the United States, with an increasing number of people seeking it out for its reported health benefits.

1. Good for Heart Health Hemp seed oil has a 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids, a balance that has been shown to support heart health and promote proper cardiovascular function. These nutrients play a role in many biological processes and may help prevent a number of degenerative diseases.

2. Supports Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails Hemp seed oil is often used as a moisturizer for the skin, and for good reason. Studies have indicated that hemp seed oil can dramatically decrease skin dryness to alleviate itching and irritation. Moreover, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may protect against the aging process while soothing the skin.

3. Excellent Nutrition for Your Brain Hemp seed oil contains essential fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), that are required for brain development. DHA is crucial to the health of the brain as well as the retina of the eye, particularly in the first year of life. Mothers who supplement with hempseed oil during pregnancy may provide brain- and eye-protective benefits for the developing baby.

4. It’s a Mercury-Free Fatty Acid Supplement Taking a fish oil supplement can be a helpful way to increase omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, a nutrient that is essential for brain development, immune system health, and mood regulation. Expectant mothers certainly want to include these nutrients in their diet; however, fish contains a great deal of mercury which can hinder neurological and developmental mechanisms in the unborn baby. Fortunately, hemp seed oil works as a terrific alternative to traditional omega-3 fatty acid supplements and doesn’t carry the same risk of mercury ingestion.

5. Supports the Immune System The essential fatty acids in hemp seed oil have been shown to promote healthy flora in the intestines and support immune system response and function. This can be very helpful during the cold and flu season when viruses are running rampant at school, work, and in everyday social interactions.

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