Hi everyone! I just returned from two weeks of seminar along with my Wellness Doctor Re-Certification in the Southwest. There was an amazing amount of new cutting-edge information in the many hours of lectures I attended on all different topics. However when it comes to nutrition, a concept that remains constant is the importance of having a balanced diet including large amounts of plants and plant materials.

Major health organizations recommend daily consumption of at least ten different fruits and vegetables of a variety of colors. Every color represents different antioxidant groups - each one fulfilling specific requirements essential for maintaining health. The trouble in reaching this fairly modest goal is being able to obtain and prepare that many organic vegetables each day. Also, it’s a challenge to keep vegetables and fruits fresh in the journey from farm to table. My best answer to this problem is to consume organic fruit and vegetable drink mixes produced and formulated by reputable nutritional labs.

I purchase my drink blends from nutritional labs because I want assurance of having the most benefit without doing any harm. Over-the-counter products often have hidden problems, yet labels often read as if they contain only miraculous substances. I only want to put the best ingredients into my body as well as having them taste good.

At first, I thought the cost of good quality organic drink mixes was high until I tried replicating them in my own kitchen. After doing this, I wondered how they could be so inexpensive. This makes me feel good about sharing the products I found through my recent seminars. We plan to continue carrying the other amazing products we’ve enjoyed the last few years, but we’re working to please everyone’s palate. It’s that important.

When I find products that pass my stringent criteria, I bring them in for the real test. If patients like them and do well, they stay. If not, I keep looking. This is why we want your honest opinion when you have the opportunity to try them at our March 31st workshop. Just be sure to R.S.V.P. so we can stock up!

For optimal health, we should take time to enjoy meals based on wholesome foods every day, not just on holidays. With the fast pace of today’s world, I suggest scheduling time to prepare meals along with actually sitting down to enjoy a meal. In many households, I’ve heard that family members are headed in different directions most of the time. And singles tell me they can’t justify the time involved in preparing food for only themselves. While never being substitutes for real meals, whole food supplements, healthy snacks, and nutritious drinks can help provide some of the missing nutrition.

A rating to determine the amount of antioxidant value in foods was created by the U.S. Government. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) measures and compares the antioxidant potential of fruits and vegetables. This score reflects the ability of a food to defend against free radical damage in the body.

The average American consumes only 1,200 ORACS from fruits and vegetables although at least 4000 units are needed to fight inflammation, aging and degenerative stress.

One of the blends we’ll sample contains 20,000 antioxidant units per each 15 gram serving. Based on advances in clinical lab testing by the New Brunswick Laboratory, this combination of ingredients neutralizes 5 free radicals. In the past, only 1 free radical was tested. For you science geeks, I’ve listed them: 1. ORAC: Testing for the peroxyl radical that causes inflammation and heart disease. 2. NORAC: Testing for the peroxyl-nitrate radical linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. 3. HORAC: Testing for the hydroxyl radical that targets the body’s DNA and can cause cancers. 4. SOAC: Testing for the singlet oxygen radical that causes macular degeneration. 5. SORAC: Testing for the super oxide anion radical that causes energy and muscle disorders and inflammation.

The bottom line is that whole plant foods contain unique compounds that fight deficiency type conditions, and help with age-related issues such as arthritis, inflammation, diabetes, macular degeneration, heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, dementia and cancer. Perhaps you’ve heard of these compounds, referred to as phytonutrients.

Following is a list of phytonutrients and what they target in the body. As you read through the list you may be surprised at how many you recognize…

CAROTENOIDS: proven to help with macular degeneration, heart disease, colon, rectal and stomach cancers. (Beta-Carotene, Lycopene, Lutein and Zeaxanthan)

FLAVONOIDS: proven to help with lowering blood pressure, lessening the buildup of plaque, balancing blood sugar, increased longevity, starving cancer cells, prostate cancer and heart disease. (Reserveratrol)

INDOLES: proven to help with deactivating tumor growth and slowing disease. (Indole-3-carbinaol)

ISOTHIOCYANATES: proven to neutralize damaging effects of smoking or second hand smoke and lessens risk of breast cancers. (Sulforaphane)

MONOTERPENES: proven to reduce damage to muscles and lowers risks of cancers. (Perillyl)

ORGANOSULFUR COMPOUNDS: proven to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, kill microbes that cause colds, flu and yeast infections, and kill H. pylori bacteria found in the stomach that cause ulcers and stomach cancers. (Allyic Sulfides, Ajoene, Allicin)

PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS: proven to help with Alzheimer’s disease, smoking hydrocarbons, brain function, cataract reduction, inflammation and arthritis including rheumatoid. (Polyphenols, Ellagic Acid, Curcumin)

SAPONINS: help stimulate the immune system, lowering rate of disease like cancer.

The formula from this particular lab allowed them to make 9 Government Approved Structure Function Claims stating that they: Promote cardiovascular health, healthy glucose metabolism, healthy vision, healthy inflammatory response, healthy brain function, and healthy aging; and support healthy immune response, healthy skin, and healthy urinary tract health.

This delicious blend contains 24 raw freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, and 10 organic juices along with herbs and extracts including Organic Tumeric, Quercetin, Oregano, Onion, Red Apple, Garlic, Basil, Cinnamon, and Green Tea. The other delicious blend contains Beet (root), Organic Broccoli, Spinach, Watercress, Asparagus, Parsley, Spirulina, Chorella, along with Acerola and Quercetin. Wow! See why I’m looking forward to our “Taste Tests?”

by Dr. Karl For Body Mind Spirit Guide