Cut CRP with Fiber

by Kelley Herring

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical a Nutrition examined the relationship between c-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation and a predictor of future heart disease and diabetes, with dietary fiber.

The study evaluated the body composition, CRP, diet and physical activity of 524 people. The researchers found that CRP was inversely associated with total fiber in the diet.

Fit fiber into your diet by eating more whole grains, fruits and vegetables and try these filling fiber-full fixes.

Do You Know Your CRP?

by Kelley Herring

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a tiny inflammatory factor that plays a big role in your risk of heart disease. Because CRP is stimulated by blood sugar, keeping your blood sugar low is important in preventing heart-harming events. In fact, the higher your blood sugar level, the more C-reactive protein produced in the body and the greater the risk of cardiovascular complications.

A recent report published by the American Heart Association/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (AHA/CDC) duo indicates that CRP measurements may provide important information for assessing heart disease beyond that which may be obtained from established risk factors.

The good news is that what you eat plays a big role in keeping yor CRP levels low. Learn about how a low glycemic diet, packed with fruits, veggies and healthy fats can help keep CRP levels in check.

High Homocysteine Levels

Double Heart Attack... and Triple Stroke Risk!

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a dangerous protein by-product that’s associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and even deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

The good news is that you can get your body to convert this dangerous substance into a harmless amino acid… just by getting enough of these threevitamins.

Learn which vitamins you need to keep your homocysteine low, the ideal level of Hcy you should have in your blood and how to get tested in 20 Lifesaving Tests Your Doctor Hasn’t Performed (And Should!) and Smart Cooks Age Better.

Click here to learn more...

Cherries: A Sweet Way to Reduce Inflammation

by Kelley Herring

Inflammation is (or should be) a serious concern. It is the cornerstone of cellular aging and the root of chronic disease, which now affects more than 100 million people in the U.S. alone.

But new research shows that eating many of your favorite foods, including cherries, may help quell inflammation and forestall the ravages of aging.

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition evaluated the effect of cherries on inflammation. Eighteen healthy men and women supplemented their diets with bing cherries (280 grams/day, or just less than two cups of pitted cherries) for 28 days. Blood samples were drawn and analyzed before and during the cherry noshing, as well as 28 days afterward.

After 28 days, the subjects’ plasma concentrations of c-reactive protein (CRP), a primary marker of inflammation, decreased by 25%. Then, after the subjects abstained from cherries for 28 days, their circulating concentrations of CRP increased by approximately 10%.

Choose cherries for a sweet treat with real health benefits. Try our delicious cherry recipes here at Healing Gourmet or whip up a Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie. Just blend one cup of organic milk, one scoop of Jay Robb’s Chocolate Whey (all-natural, pasture-grazed, grass-fed whey protein isolate made from cows not treated with the synthetic bovine growth hormone rBGH), and one cup of frozen organic cherries. In minutes, you’ll have an antioxidant-rich dessert for breakfast that will keep you full till lunch and keep inflammation at bay.

High Homocysteine Levels

Double Heart Attack... and Triple Stroke Risk!

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a dangerous protein by-product that’s associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and even deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

The good news is that you can get your body to convert this dangerous substance into a harmless amino acid… just by getting enough of these threevitamins.

Learn which vitamins you need to keep your homocysteine low, the ideal level of Hcy you should have in your blood and how to get tested in 20 Lifesaving Tests Your Doctor Hasn’t Performed (And Should!) and Smart Cooks Age Better.

Click here to learn more...

Bulk Up to Lower Inflammation

You’ve likely heard (and seen) quite a bit lately on a “miracle” substance that is proven to foster weight loss, improve gastrointestinal health, protect the heart, and even guard against
cancer.

Food manufacturers are boosting it in their products (and proudly displaying it on the labels), TV commercials exposing taut tummies urge you to get more by whirling it into juice or water, and a recent book suggests getting 35 grams every day is the key to losing weight and staying healthy for life.

What is this miracle substance? Fiber!

Although devoid of calories, this “non-nutritional vital nutrient”, is anything but lacking when it comes to your health. And new research shows yet another way roughage (as mom calls it) can help prevent one of the major causes of chronic disease—inflammation.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation and a predictor of future heart disease and diabetes, with dietary fiber. The study evaluated the body composition, CRP, diet and physical activity of 524 people. At the end of the study, researchers found CRP levels in the body were inversely associated with the total fiber in the diet.

Bulk up to keep inflammation down. For maximum benefit, get a variety of plant-based foods that provide both soluble and insoluble fiber like these:

• Black beans, ½ cup: 7.5 grams
  
• Chickpeas, 1/2 cup: 6.2 grams
  
• Kidney beans, 1/2 cup, cooked: 5.8 grams
  
• Navy beans, 1/2 cup, cooked: 5.8 grams
  
• Northern beans, 1/2 cup, cooked: 5.6 grams
  
• Pinto beans, 1/2 cup, cooked: 7.4 grams
  
• Brussels sprouts, 1 cup: 6.4 grams
  
• Apple: 5.7 grams
  
• Pear: 5.1 grams
  
• Whole wheat spaghetti, 1 cup: 6.3 grams
  

You can also use our Personalized Recipe Search to find recipes highest in fiber.

Are You Getting Enough of This Anti-Inflammatory Elixir?

This essential fat dramatically reduces inflammation. Some studies show it can slash the markers of inflammation by up to 30%.

But close to 90% of us don’t get enough!

Learn what it is and how much you need every day in Fats That Heal, Fats That Harm (p. 14) and the test you should take to find out if your oil is low in 20 Tests Your Doctor Hasn’t Performed, And Should! (p. 13)

Click here to learn more...