Eggs with 22x more omega-3′s?

Article by: Mike Geary

I’m always amazed how many people overlook the importance of what an animal was fed and how that relates to the nutritional benefits of that product.

Eggs are a perfect example.

As you probably know, our egg supply in the US comes mostly from factory farm chickens that not only live in horrendously unhealthy conditions for the chicken, but also fed an unnatural diet of grains that SEVERELY affects the nutritional qualities of the eggs for your health.

I’ve been digging around on this topic for a long time, and here are some interesting things I’ve found:

In general, the regular eggs you get at the supermarket (that are fed grains and are from factory farms) contain anywhere from 30mg to 80mg omega-3 fatty acids per egg (depending on egg size, variety of hens, exact ratio of feed, etc)

However, hens allowed to roam freely outdoors and/or fed a diverse feed of greens, mixed vegetables, bugs, grubs, worms, etc can contain anywhere from 300mg to 700mg of omega-3′s per egg.

One such study came from a Dr. Simopoulos who analyzed the omega-3 vs omega-6 content of eggs from a farm in Greece where the chickens roamed freely and ate a variety of natural foods such as greens and bugs/worms.  These eggs were compared against analysis of “supermarket eggs” fed a typical grain diet in the US.

The eggs from the free roaming chickens in Greece had an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 1.3 to 1 while the “supermarket eggs” had a horrendous omega-6/omega3 ratio of 19.4 to 1.

As for total omega-3 content per egg in Simopoulos’ report, the eggs from the free-roaming hens in Greece had 300 mg of omega-3′s per egg, while the “supermarket egg” had a lowly 30mg of omega-3′s per egg.

I’ve also been reading the inside of egg cartons at grocery stores lately and comparing notes on their label claims of omega-3 fatty acids.

The egg producers recently have been catching on to the public’s knowledge of the reduced omega-3 content in mass produced eggs… so certain brands have now been “fortifying” the hens diet with feed additions higher in omega-3′s to help balance out the excess omega-6′s found in eggs from grain-fed hens.

Usually, this fortification occurs by adding either flax seed or an algae meal (or fish meal) to the hens feed. The hens eat more omega-3′s and that produces a higher omega-3 content in the eggs.

Some of these so-called “omega-3 eggs” have label claims anywhere from 100mg omega-3′s to 250mg omega-3′s…  Definitely better than the 30mg omega-3′s found in the typical “supermarket eggs”.

I also stumbled onto a specific brand of eggs recently that touted that it’s hens are fed a patented feed mixture of 20 different vegetables, grains, and minerals. Because of the diverse diet that these hens are fed, their measured omega-3 content is listed as 660mg omega-3′s per egg, as well as a perfect 1:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3.

This is 22x the omega-3 content of the grain-fed “supermarket egg” that contained only 30mg omega-3′s in Dr. Simopoulos’ report.

That just shows how powerful of a difference in the nutrition composition that occurs simply by feeding the hens a proper diverse diet. And we haven’t even touched on the nutritional content of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, etc that will obviously be higher in a healthy hen fed a diverse diet as opposed to a factory farmed hen.

However, that’s only a small step in the right direction. Even these egg companies with new label claims of increased omega-3 content still doesn’t guarantee that the hens were raised in an outdoor environment, and allowed to roam freely instead of being confined in cages and kept indoors in filthy conditions their entire lives.

Keep in mind that “cage-free” doesn’t always mean that the hens actually go outside… according to some reports, it only means that there is a small door somewhere that the hens COULD go outside if they found the small door and were smart enough to venture through it. This could vary vastly from company to company.

This is supposedly a loophole in the whole cage-free labeling system. I’m not sure if there’s any way currently to know IF the chickens actually ventured outside even when they’re labeled “cage-free”.

So what are the best options?

1. By FAR the best option is if you can find a local farmer where you KNOW that the hens are actually outdoors most of the time and allowed to eat a natural diet with high variety. These will be the superstar eggs in terms of nutritional quality.

This could be at farmers markets or even farmers that deliver to urban areas (which I’ve found in every state I’ve lived, so it’s not impossible).

2. Ok, I understand that not everyone will be able to find a local farmer or a farmer that delivers eggs from happy hens that roam freely eating what chickens were meant to eat…the world isn’t perfect…

So, the next best option is to read the labels on egg cartons and see if it sounds like the hens were fed a highly variable diet (instead of just grains).  Sometimes this can come from algae meal or flax seed, etc added to their diet.  This is at least an improvement over standard supermarket eggs.

Despite what you may hear from some so-called “health experts” who say that all eggs are equal, these types of eggs WILL have nutritional benefits compared to your typical supermarket eggs.

Also, look for organic as well as antibiotic and hormone-free if possible. “Cage-free” may or may not always be an improvement depending on the company.

And lastly, if you read articles or hear people telling you that whole eggs are unhealthy because of saturated fat and cholesterol, please tell them (in a nice way) to GET A CLUE!

**8 Reasons Why Healthy Food is NOT More Expensive**

Article by Michael Geary

This is probably the biggest excuse I hear from people as to why they don’t eat healthy… most people have a false impression that healthy food too expensive.  But I’ll show you just why this is absolutely ridiculous.

Generally, people complain that prices are too high for foods such as:

*organic free-range eggs vs standard supermarket eggs
*healthy grass-fed meats instead of standard unhealthy grain-fed meats
*organic produce vs conventional produce (there are some times when this doesn’t matter, which I’ll talk about in an upcoming newsletter)
*cooking natural unprocessed meals vs fast food meals

Here are some things to consider:

1. People complain about the price of organic free range eggs that are $3.50 per dozen.  However, those same people will buy a $2.00 soda EVERY DAY of the week, which is nothing but chemicals and high fructose corn syrup.

The dozen eggs will give you several days worth of all of the B vitamins, selenium, phosphorus, and dozens of other vitamins and minerals that you need. The dozen eggs will also give you approximately 80-90 gms of some of the most bio-available protein available. Plus there’s the healthy fats, omega-3′s, lutein, and more.

I don’t care if eggs went up to $10.00/dozen… it would still be a bargain!

Why don’t more people just skip the $2.00 sodas that they drink each day and put that $60.00/month towards healthy food instead?
2.  People complain about the price of healthy foods vs just getting fast food… meanwhile they pull up to the fast-food drive-in in their $50,000 car.

Where are the priorities?  Obviously, this person is saying that their car is more important to them than their health.  For some reason, they can’t seem to understand that their car isn’t gonna matter when they die of a heart attack!

Why not drive around a cheaper car and use the extra funds to buy healthier food?
3.  People complain about the cost of healthy foods, so they resort to eating cheap junk food… meanwhile they are spending $200 or more per month on blood pressure drugs, type-2 diabetes drugs, etc.

Yet for some reason, they don’t seem to grasp the concept that eating healthy can fully reverse their high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes.  Yes, fully reverse!

Why not put that $200 per month towards eating healthier and working out instead of on drugs that have side effects and are draining their wallet?  Hmmm.
4.  People complain about the cost of healthy foods, yet the horrendous food supply and resulting poor health of the nation causes higher health care costs for everybody.  Where’s the REAL cost?
5.  People complain about the cost of healthy foods, yet these same people seem to be able to afford the fanciest new cell phones, ipods, laptops, big screen TVs, and way too many cable TV stations to ever be able to watch.  I guess their priorities are saying that those electronics and watching 4 hours of TV per day are more important than their health.
6.  People complain about the cost of healthy foods, yet the pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other poor farming practices (such as factory farm feedlot wastes) that go into producing unhealthy factory farm junk food end up creating costly environmental cleanups (which can increase your taxes) and deteriorate health.
7.  People will balk at the price of a healthy grass-fed steak or organic produce, but they will spend $100′s per month on cigarettes, and drinking twenty $6 beers out at the bars every weekend.

Btw, if you want to support a farmer that’s doing things correctly, in a healthy sustainable manner, you can get some of the highest quality grass-fed meats, wild fish, and healthy snacks right online here:

http://healthygrassfed.2ya.com
8.  And lastly, people tend to generally view food PRICE as the most important aspect in choosing food, as opposed to food QUALITY.  But this makes no sense whatsoever.

I bet anything that many of those same people that choose food based on price (instead of quality) choose their clothes based on quality, their electronics based on quality, their cars based on quality, their homes based on quality, their jewelry based on quality, etc, etc.

Once again…priorities!  Why do so many people value quality on “material” goods, but don’t value quality when choosing food, which is going to determine their health, happiness, how good they look, and how long they live.

It’s absurd if you think about it.

Alright, rant over for today!

If you thought any of these items below were healthy, you’re going to be SHOCKED about what you read inside our Fat Burning Kitchen program:

*Canola Oil, soybean oil, etc
*Whole grain breads or crackers
*Tofu or soymilk
*so-called “energy” drinks
*Protein bars
*Skim milk
*Rice cakes
*Sports drinks
*Low-carb “designer foods”
*Low-fat “designer foods”

ALL OF THEM ARE COMPLETE JUNK MAKING YOU FATTER!

“Chubby Hips, Thunder Thighs and Manboobs”

By John Romaniello
I’m sure none of the above items sound like terms of endearment, or ways you’d like your body parts described; but if one of them applies to you, you KNOW it.

And if any of those DO apply to you, then you’re likely dealing with regional fat storage issues.  While we all store fat all over, it’s often most noticeable in certain areas – we call these the “problem areas”.  And unfortunately, it’s the problem areas that we often struggle most to rid of unwanted fat.

Now, if you’re storing fat in one or all of the three areas mentioned in this article (your hips, thighs, or if you’re a guy, your chest) despite your best efforts with diet and traditional training, then I’m here to tell you, you’ve got some hormone issues.

You see, ALL problem areas are influenced heavily by your hormonal environment, and where you store that last bit of fat is determined by which of your hormones are out of whack.  In this particular case, it’s the female hormone estrogen.

High levels of estrogen are awesome for enjoying Grey’s Anatomy and makin’ babies, but terrible for fat loss, which explains why women usually have more trouble losing fat than men.

However, anyone — male or female — with high estrogen levels will have trouble losing fat, especially from the lower body. In essence, the higher your estrogen levels, the greater the likelihood you’ll store fat in your lower body; mainly in the hips and thighs.

And yes, it IS possible for men to have high estrogen levels. Unfortunately, outside of having to deal with a declined rate of fat loss and lower body fat, these guys ALSO have to deal with the ignominy of man-boobs.

Rather than try to correct this through medication or steroids, it’s possible to address the issue through training.

That is, it is possible to utilize training that will produce hormones which OFFSET estrogen.

And how else would you combat estrogen but with testosterone?

Being clear, you are going to increase testosterone levels naturally, through training. Not only will this increase the net fat-burning effect of all exercises, but more appropriate to our purposes here, it will also facilitate in getting rid of lower body fat.

I should mention something here to alleviate any concerns: it is NOT possible to produce a detrimental amount of testosterone through training. So ladies, you don’t have to worry about any masculinizing effects.

Instead, training produces what we would term a ‘high’ amount of testosterone from a physiological perspective, relative to what your body normally produces. For the guys, this means that such training will help you put on a bit more muscle–just not steroid muscle.

Got it?

At this point, I know you’re thinking, “all right Roman, get to the point, what do I do?”

Great question. And the answer is DENSITY TRAINING.

Training in a way that seeks to increase training density is one of the best ways to spur your body to produce and release more testosterone, which will (obviously) help you lose that estrogen related fat storage.

Training density can be defined as the amount of work you do in a given amount of time during a training session. If you want to increase density, you can do more work (sets, reps, or both) in the same amount of time, or do the same amount of work and decrease the time in which you do it.

However, I’ve come up with a method of density training that is specific to RADICAL fat loss, and this means that not only will you produce the testosterone necessary to mitigate your regional fat issue, but you’ll also lose more fat on the whole.

Pretty cool, eh?

As an example, let’s pick 3 exercises: the overhead press, the dumbbell row, and the squat.

Setting these up in a circuit fashion, you perform them one after another with little rest in between.

Instead of having a set number of reps, we’re going to be forming each of these exercises for TIME–you simply have to do as many as you can in a given time period.

To make it easy, let’s say you did each of the above exercises for 30 seconds. In performing such a circuit, your results might look like this:

Overhead Press: 25 pound dumbbells for 20 reps
DB Row: 40 pound dumbbells for 18 reps
Squat: 100 pound barbell for 22 reps

Not too shabby. Now, HERE is where it gets crazy.

We’re going to take advantage of some cool things that happen in the body; triggers that happen which will make you more efficient and more capable.

To do that, we’re going to INCREASE the weight by 10-20% and try to do MORE reps.

Does that seem impossible? It isn’t. Due to neuromuscular junction and neural activation, in almost ALL cases, you’ll be able to do just that.

Your second attempt at that circuit might look like this:

Overhead Press: 30 pound dumbbells for 23 reps
DB Row: 50 pound dumbbells for 20 reps
Squat: 120 pound barbell for 25 reps

Density training is fun, challenge-based, burns a heck of a lot of fat, and –- most importantly –- is one of the best training modalities around for increasing testosterone production and release.

If you want to fight your estrogen issues, you NEED more testosterone. And for that you need density training. Utilizing this method, you’re one step closer to fighting off your stubborn hip, thigh, and god forbid, “manboob” fat for good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harmful Effects and Symptoms of Dehydration

The Harmful Effects Result from Dehydration:

• Tiredness
• Migraine
• Constipation
• Muscle cramps
• Irregular blood-pressure
• Kidney problems
• Dry skin
• 20% dehydrated – Risk of death

Symptoms of Dehydration

Here are some of the symptoms that you need more water:

• Dark Urine – Dark Yellow or Orange in Color: Urine is generally pale yellow to clear when you have sufficient water intake. Dark color or smell strong indicates that you need to drink more water.
• Dry Skin: Skin is the largest body organ and requires its share of water.
• Thirst: Thirst is the most obvious sign that you’re already dehydrated. It is always a good practice to drink more water when your are not thirsty, don’t wait until you’re thirsty.
• Hunger: Most people mistaken hungry is the indication to eat more, whereas in actual fact, you may be dehydrated. So before you have your meal, grab a glass of water.
• Fatigue: Water is a source of enegy, give you a boost in energy.

How much water should you drink a day to avoid dehydration? A common approach is drinking 8 glasses of water a day, is it sufficient?

By Dr. Maoshing Ni

Tea goes back to China almost 5,000 years ago. Herbal teas were specially blended from plants that exhibited medicinal properties to maintain health and prevent illness. Find out what makes tea so beneficial and how you can craft your own custom blend to stay healthy!

What is tea?

Technically speaking, tea is the dried and processed leaves of Camellia sinensis, and includes four main varieties: black, oolong, green, and white tea.

Black tea, produced when tea leaves undergo an oxidizing process that turns the leaves black, has the strongest flavor and the highest content of caffeine—about one third the caffeine you would get from the same cup of coffee. Oolong tea is slightly less oxidized and has less caffeine. Green tea is steamed, rolled and dried immediately after harvest, which halts the oxidation process, allowing the leaves to retain their green color. White tea undergoes the least processing—the young tea buds are picked and then air-dried. All of these varieties have different health benefits, with green tea and white tea leading the pack.

Experts believe that flavonoids are the key health-promoting ingredient in tea. These polyphenol antioxidants are present in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been found to help prevent cell damage. Recent research suggests that tea may protect against heart disease and many types of cancer.

What about herbal tea?

Well, herbal tea is not really tea at all, but actually an infusion or tisane made from various leaves, flowers, fruit, or herbs. Herbal tea is sometimes enjoyed for its delicious taste and many times enjoyed for its medicinal properties.

While real “tea” boasts many healthy benefits, a major pro to herbal tea is that it is caffeine-free. Also, you can tailor your tea to your needs by selecting herbs and plants that address the health issue you want to target.

The list of tea recipes that follow are just a few combinations to help you heal.

1. Warming tea for cold hands and feet

For a warming tea from head to toe, make cinnamon and clove tea by putting 2 cinnamon sticks and 1 teaspoon of cloves in 3 cups of water and boil for 15 minutes. Strain and drink 3 cups each day. Drink one cup in the evenings to warm your insides, which encourages a good night’s sleep.

Specially blended Winter Tea makes use of herbs that expel cold while warming and tonifying your kidneys.

2. Pore-opening tea for combating a cold

This is a traditional Chinese remedy for a “wind cold”, which usually occurs during seasonal changes and is often a result of exposure to drafts. At this early stage, Chinese medicine suggests that perspiration is helpful in removing the pathogens from the skin.

Boil one chopped garlic clove, three slices of ginger, one chopped scallion, some basil, and a pinch of cinnamon in 24 ounces of water for five minutes. Drink the tea hot and go to bed. Cover up and prepare to sweat. Sweating opens the pores, releasing trapped pathogens from the skin. Drink at least 3 cups of tea daily until symptoms subside.

For “wind heat” type of cold, which is characterized by high fever, sweating, sore throat, cough, headaches, and a yellow nasal discharge, you would see a Chinese medical practitioner for an herbal blend that is individualized for your needs.

3. Alertness-Enhancing Tea

The next time you need to spice up your concentration, instead of reaching for harsh stimulants like coffee, try the potent yet gentle energizers in your spice rack. Studies have found that compounds in everyday herbs and spices can increase mental function and physical vitality. All these herbs and spices contain volatile oils that stimulate your senses and increase alertness: dill, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, sage, bay, peppermint, ginger, garlic, parsley, cinnamon, onion, chives, garlic and leek. Make a tea from any combination and drink whenever you need a pick-me-up.

4. Herbal Hearing Aid Tea

The traditional Chinese remedy for diminished hearing is to make a tea from herbs that gently restore the ear. Make a hearing aid tea by boiling together for 15 minutes: 4 cups of water, 1 heaping tablespoon each of oregano, cilantro, rosemary, and sage, combined with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and 3 slices of fresh ginger. Drink three cups a day for three weeks and hear the difference.

5. Stomach-Settling Tea

Ginger has been shown to soothe the digestive lining and balance gastric juices. Make ginger tea by slicing fresh ginger root into 2 inch long slices and boiling in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain out the ginger and sip the tea slowly. Drink ginger tea as often as you need to settle your stomach and keep nausea away.

Or steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage, and basil in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating.

Among my patients, a very popular herbal tea is Internal Cleanse Tea, which is specially combined to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, balance emotions, and ease digestion. 

Try the whole Tao Tea collection, specially blended to bring you balance in mind, body, and spirit.

Brewing Tips

Follow these tips for best benefits:

• Tap water affects the taste of tea. It is best to use fresh filtered water. To extract the most beneficial compounds from the tea leaves or bags, let them steep for three to five minutes.
• It is best to drink tea unsweetened and without milk, which can minimize some of the health benefits. Forgo the sugar and try instead honey, stevia products, or a stick of cinnamon.
• For maximum health benefits, I suggest you work with a licensed acupuncturist or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to find an herbal blend tailored specifically to your needs.

I hope you reap the powerful healing benefits of tea! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!

New Study Confirms: Organic Food is Far Healthier Than Conventional

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Organic produce is nutritionally superior to so-called “conventional” produce, according to a comprehensive review conducted by researchers from the University of Aix-Marseille for the French food agency (AFSSA) and published in the journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development.

“This critical literature review indicates that organic agriculture, as developed until now, has the potential to produce high-quality products with some relevant improvements in terms of anti-oxidant phytomicronutrients, nitrate accumulation in vegetables and toxic residue levels,” the researchers wrote.

To be recognized as “organic,” a food product must be produced without the use of genetic modification or chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and must promote sustainable cropping methods. In the United States, organically produced meat and dairy must be raised without the use of synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics. Hormones and antibiotics are banned in animal production across the board in the European Union.

Recently the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) reviewed existing research on the nutritional content of organic produce concluded that there was no difference, nutritionally, between organic and non-organic produce. The FSA study did not examine the reasons most often given by consumers of organic produce, namely benefits to the environment, farm workers, and consumer health due to lower chemical use.

Yet the AFSSA review calls the FSA’s conclusions into question. After conducting an “up-to-date exhaustive and critical evaluation of the nutritional and sanitary quality of organic food,” French researchers concluded that organic produce is clearly nutritionally superior.

Organic produce contains more minerals, such as iron and magnesium, than non-organic produce, and higher levels of antioxidants such as phenols and salicylic acid.

“Organic plant food overall contain double the amount of phenolic compounds,” the researchers wrote.

Animal foods produced organically contained significantly more polyunsaturated fat than non-organic animal products. In addition, organic vegetables contained 50 percent less nitrates than non-organic produce. No more than 6 percent of organic produce tested contained pesticide residue.

Sources for this story include: www.foodnavigator-usa.com; www.healthsentinel.com.