9 Reasons to add Chlorella superfood to your diet

Like spirulina, chlorella is a green alga with a host of health benefits. Though it has been around forever, this single-celled alga remained well hidden in freshwater ponds in the Far East until the end of the 19th century.

While the Japanese were among the first to bring it to the market, it took a few more decades for the West to discover its full potential. Recently, chlorella has been receiving a lot of buzz and has earned “superfood” status because of its extraordinary nutrient density.

While there are more than 30 different species, only two species, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidos, have been well-studied for their many health benefits. Here are nine of them you should know about to improve your family’s health.

1.      Packed with essential nutrients

Chlorella is a nutrient powerhouse. About 60 percent of it is complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. It has an excellent omega-3 to omega-6 ratio and offers a broad range of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, iron, vitamin B12, and beta-carotene

2.      Binds heavy metals

Another reason chlorella has gotten some buzz is because of its ability to bind and help eliminate heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, and other toxic compounds, such as dioxin, from the body. Its amazing detoxing properties come from chlorophyll and vitamin B12, which produce glutathione, a potent antioxidant to safeguard the body against toxicity and disease.

3.      Boosts the immune system

Though the evidence is limited, research has shown that chlorella may boost the immune system to ward off unwanted intruders that can make you sick.

4.      Improves cholesterol

Several studies have found that daily supplementation of five to ten grams of chlorella can reduce triglycerides and total cholesterol in people with high blood pressure and/or elevated cholesterol levels. It is believed that niacin, fiber, and catenoids, among other antioxidants present in chlorella, are responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effect.

5.      Acts as a powerful antioxidant

Though more studies are needed to confirm the results, chlorella’s antioxidants — including chlorophyll, vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein — have shown to lower oxidative damage to prevent chronic diseases.

6.      Keeps blood pressure in check

When people with high blood pressure were given a 12-week chlorella supplement, they saw their levels drop significantly. While it is still uncertain what’s causing the effect, some experts believe nutrients such as arginine, potassium, calcium, and omega-3s help prevent arteries from hardening.

7.      Stabilizes blood sugar levels

According to one study, there is evidence that daily chlorella supplementation may lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity in both healthy individuals and those at high risk of lifestyle-related conditions within 12 weeks.

8.      Enhances aerobic endurance

In another study, scientists gave a group of young adults six grams of chlorella or a placebo daily. After four weeks, the chlorella group had significantly improved the ability to saturate their lungs with oxygen, which is a sign of improved endurance. Researchers think the effect might be due to a collection of three amino acids that have previously been found to improve aerobic performance.

9.      Manages Respiratory diseases

Since chronic inflammation characterizes many respiratory illnesses, chlorella’s antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory compounds may improve the quality of life for people who have asthma or other respiratory diseases.

Before you get overexcited and start to grow chlorella in your garden pond, know that they have a tough cell wall humans cannot digest. Therefore, you should always take it as a supplement in powder, tablet, or capsule form to reap all these amazing benefits.

Stay informed about the wonderful superfoods of our planet at Natural News Ingredients.

Sources include:

EcoWatch.com

NaturalLivingideas.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

Organic certifier warns: Many beauty products in the UK that are labeled “organic” are misleading

If it’s labeled “organic” then you might want to panic. As explained by the UK-based organic certification agency Soil Association, thousands of beauty products with the “organic” label are anything but. A recent market report released by the organization has revealed that a number of products bearing tag aren’t actually certified and often contain banned ingredients.

“There are hundreds or even thousands of products for sale on UK high streets which make organic claims but contain ingredients which would not be permitted in a certified organic product,” the organization explained in their report. “The confusing terms on the labels we encountered suggest that it is often very difficult for consumers to know they are making the right choice when doing their shopping.”

According to TheGuardian.com, the organic health and beauty products industry has witnessed a steady rise in popularity in the UK. The Soil Association warned that the industry is focused more on marketing its products as “green” rather than directing its resources into formulating toxin-free, environmentally products. Beauty products are not required to adhere to the strict regulations established by the European Union (EU), unlike organic foods. This lack of control allows any company to classify any product and brand as “organic” or “natural” even they contain no organic nor natural ingredients.

“This is the tip of the iceberg,” says Peter Melchett, Policy Director of the Soil Association. “The labels on products we encountered were littered with confusing terms. Our consumer research shows that it is very difficult for consumers to know they are making the right choice when doing their shopping.”

The Soil Association collaborated with Emeritus Professor Vyvyan Howard of the Centre for Molecular Bioscience at Ulster University to come up with the “Terrible Ten” list. On the list are ingredients that consumers need to watch out for, and which shouldn’t be used in a product that’s been certified organic. The Terrible Ten ingredients are:

• Ethyl hexylsalicylate (Octisalate)
• Homosalate
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Octinoxate
• Octocrylene
• PEGs: PEG-7; PEG-40; PEG-200; PEG-12
• Polyquaternium 7
• Polysorbate 20
• Red 17 artificial colour 26100
• Retinyl palmitate

Among the problems caused by these ingredients are hormone disruption, allergies, and even harm to unborn babies. Of their findings, Howard has said: “I was shocked to find ingredients which could contain human carcinogens in products with labels which could misleadingly suggest that they might be organic. Genuine organic products are independently certified and I would encourage consumers to choose those to be sure they are keeping away from ingredients included in the Terrible Ten.” (Related: Thousands of ‘organic’ beauty products found to contain banned chemicals)

The HuffingtonPost.co.uk reported that the Soil Association has found “13 products from eight different brands that have labels which could suggest to consumers that they are wholly or mainly organic, yet are not independently certified.” In response, the Soil Association created the Campaign for Clarity, a movement dedicated to clean up “greenwashing” (disinformation spread by an organization to make themselves look environmentally responsible) that has become common in the beauty industry. One of the recommendations made by campaigners is to look for the logos of independent organic certification agencies, such as COSMOS, NaTrue, and NSF-ANSI.

The Soil Association hopes to garner enough signatures for their petition to encourage transparency from the manufacturers. “We’re hoping that lots of consumers will sign our petition calling on the brands in the league table to Come Clean About Beauty and that the brands will respond by either getting their products certified or stopping making organic and natural claims on the labels,” Jenny Collins, Standards Project Manager of the Soil Association, explains.

You can learn more about what does and doesn’t count as “organic” by visiting Organics.news.

Sources include:

TheGuardian.com

SoilAssociation.org

HuffingtonPost.co.uk

Help your hair by eating these 10 foods full of healthy hair growth properties

With too many risks involved in making the hair more beautiful, it might prove beneficial to opt for a more natural approach. This article lists down certain vitamins and minerals that are essential for hair health, and the food sources where they can be found.

1. Protein – Protein is the hair’s main component. Eat ample amounts of protein to make hair strong and healthy. Foods high in protein include poultry, fish, dairy products and eggs. Vegetable protein sources also include legumes and nuts.
2. Vitamin A – This vitamin is essential in producing sebum, an oily compound that acts as a natural conditioner for the scalp. Foods high in beta-carotene such as carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes may help boost the hair’s condition.
3. Vitamin E – Sun exposure causes hair damage. Eating foods high in vitamin E may help protect the hair from the harmful effects of UV rays. Nuts are an excellent source of vitamin E.
4. Zinc and selenium – Both minerals are known to help protect the scalp from damage. Fortified cereals and whole grains are packed with zinc. Oysters, beef and eggs are also excellent mineral sources.
5. Iron – Iron is easily an important mineral for the hair. Iron deficiency leads to anemia, which in turn results in inadequate nutrient supply and subsequent hair loss. Animal products such as poultry, red meat, and fish are excellent sources of iron. Vegetables such as spinach, lentils, and other greens such as broccoli and kale are all packed with iron.
6. Vitamin C – This vitamin facilitates iron absorption. Vitamin C also bolsters collagen production, which strengthens the capillaries in the hair shafts. Berries, citrus fruits, and sweet potatoes are excellent sources of vitamin C.
7. Biotin – Low biotin levels may result in brittle hair and subsequent hair loss. Foods such as whole grains, liver, and egg yolk as well as soy flour and yeast are rich in biotin.
8. Omega-3 – Omega-3 fatty acids line the scalp and keep it hydrated. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel are known sources of omega-3 acids.
9. Magnesium – This mineral helps fortify the hair and prevent hair loss. Foods rich in magnesium include leafy greens, bananas, avocados and yogurt.
10. Vitamin B-complex – This vitamin is essential for cell growth and division. Grains, nuts, and eggs are excellent sources of vitamin B-complex.

Toxins are “hair” to stay

Hair care services continue to gain steam in the U.S., according to the Professional Consultants & Resources‘ 2015 Professional Salon Industry Haircare Study. According to the report, hair coloring remains to be an important service among U.S. salons. Hair coloring treatments attract customers to go for other related services such as hair cuts, styles and straightening. Hair coloring services show a four percent increase, thanks largely to an aging baby boomer population and greater demands for fashion hair color. The report also reveals that keratin straightening services increased by about  3.2 percent, while cutting and styling services increased by 2.6 percent.

Unfortunately, certain hair treatments are known to cause quite intensive damage to the hair. Keratin treatment, for instance, has been labeled a potential health hazard by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the FDA, the treatment poses risks to both the customer and the salon worker. The agency’s main concern is the treatment’s formula that contains traces of formaldehyde and methylene glycol, both of which are known to cause cancer.

“It’s a semi-permanent hair smoothing system that targets the cuticle, or the outside layer, of the hair. It deposits a liquid version of the protein keratin that your hair is made up of along with a chemical preservative—this is then blown dried directly into the hair followed by flat ironing the strand into a straight position…The other negative aspect to these treatments is the temperature at which you must heat the hair to accomplish the goal. Subjecting a fine or heavily highlighted head of hair to a 450 degree flat iron, too, may not leave your hair feeling as wonderful as these treatments tend to claim,” said celebrity hair stylist David Babaii in an article in HarpersBazaar.com.

Sources include:

BBCGoodFood.com

AmericanSalon.com

HarpersBazaar.com

SlickWellness.com

Losing weight can be as easy as starting a vegan diet

Could a vegan diet really help with weight loss? While there are many reasons people choose to follow a vegan diet and lifestyle, such as concerns about animal welfare and cruelty, the environment and sustainability, there are also many health-related reasons to embark on a vegan path.

Following a vegan diet can be very rewarding and beneficial for your health, and can even help you lose weight if need be. While it is true that there are many diets that promote weight loss and are not healthy — some fad diets may fit this scenario, for example — a varied vegan diet can provide your body with a wide array of essential nutrients. In 2014, a study led by a group of European researchers found that a vegan diet was consistently healthier than other diet types, including vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, and omnivorous eating patterns.

In their conclusion, the team writes, “The use of indexing systems, estimating the overall diet quality based on different aspects of healthful dietary models (be it the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans or the compliance to the Mediterranean Diet) indicated consistently the vegan diet as the most healthy one.” Overall, vegans took in fewer calories, had a better fat intake profile and consumed more fiber than their peers.

Vegan diets don’t just provide good nutrition, they can also help with weight loss efforts. That may seem obvious, due to the restrictive nature of the diet — but don’t be fooled: Following a vegan life will not leave you constantly hungry, and in fact, you may find that you are feeling fuller and more satisfied after meals than ever before.

Because a vegan diet is loaded with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes, this way of eating generally comes with a high fiber intake. Taking in more fiber can help reduce your calorie intake, without a need to actively restrict what you’re eating. Studies have shown that increasing your fiber intake by just 14 grams a day can help you naturally reduce your total daily calorie consumption by a whopping 10 percent! This can easily translate to weight loss over time. (RELATED: Read more stories about natural weight loss at Slender.news)

The satiety-promoting nature of fiber could explain why study participants assigned to a vegan diet lost weight even though they were allowed to eat until they felt full.

Due to the high intake of fruit and vegetables that accompanies veganism, it is no surprise that this way of eating also tends to come with a naturally lower calorie intake. Fruits and vegetables are naturally less calorie-dense than other foods, so it’s easy to feel full on less. But, fruits and veggies are also naturally very nutrient-dense, so even though you’re eating fewer calories, you’re still getting a surplus of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

A well-planned vegan diet comes with many health benefits, but for the vegan, planning is truly essential. A poorly orchestrated vegan diet may not meet all of your nutrient needs and can increase your risk of deficiency. For example, B12 deficiency is a risk for vegans, but especially for those who are not actively consuming B12-fortified foods or supplements. Calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, iodine and zinc are other areas of nutrition that a vegan or vegan-to-be might want to be concerned about. Vitamins A and K12 may also require special attention, depending on your genetics.

Falling deficient in these nutrients can have deleterious effects on your health, and may cause nervous system damage, hypothyroidism, anemia, bone fractures or depression. With proper planning and understanding, these needs can usually be met fairly easily. However, your individual genetics may impact your ability to absorb or maintain adequate levels of certain nutrients, like vitamin A or choline. If you plan on starting a vegan diet, you should keep a record of your daily food and nutrient intake, and consider visiting your chosen healthcare practitioner to ensure that you are meeting your body’s nutritional needs.

Sources: 

AuthorityNutrition.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov