Purple Sweet Potatoes, More Great News; Exemplifying the possibilities offered by deeply colored vegetables Posted on June 12, 2017 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Purple Sweet Potatoes, More Great News; Exemplifying the possibilities offered by deeply colored vegetables The term superfood gets thrown around too much. Many of the foods are great for one reason or another but they seldom provide enough bulk to our diet (such as starch, other macronutrients, and/or fiber) to go along with their exceptional antioxidant content. We would be hard-pressed to acquire a significant amount of our daily energy from many of the most popular foods featured on the Dr. Oz show. Mangosteen, cacao, green coffee beans, blueberries, acai, and green tea are all amazing in one way or another, but they should never constitute a significant percentage of what we eat daily. True superfoods would be those that offer much more than a unique antioxidant or polyphenol content, but that also provide an additional foundation of nutrients, and that are compatible with human physiology on multiple levels. The lack of difficult-to-digest anti- nutrients, and possessing low levels of sugar and polyunsaturated fats are critical characteristics. The superfood should also be highly supportive of our micro biome and foster the growth of beneficial organisms while inhibiting the growth of potentially pathogenic ones. Continue reading →
Probiotics, Fermented Foods and Metabolic Damage A Low Risk Insurance Plan Posted on June 6, 2017 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Probiotics, Fermented Foods and Metabolic Damage A Low Risk Insurance Plan Most clinicians have at least a few foods that they are uncertain about with respect to whether or not they are supportive of their patient’s health. Certain whole grains, legumes, red meat, and fruit are all common suspects from one clinician to another. Thankfully, there are some things that can be offered to patients that can significantly increase the likelihood that a food or foods at any meal are metabolized more favorably. Continue reading →
Hidden Sources of Inflammation in Commercial Enteral Formulas: Looking beyond the sugar and chemicals Posted on June 1, 2017 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Hidden Sources of Inflammation in Commercial Enteral Formulas: Looking beyond the sugar and chemicals There is a growing level of awareness around the increased risk for chronic disease and inflammatory-mediated conditions with sugar consumption. Many Liquid Hope and Nourish customers choose our organic, whole-food enteral formulas for this reason alone. Others have decided that there is no place for artificial ingredients or chemicals in their meal replacements or the diet of their critically ill loved ones. These are major issues with many commercial enteral formulas, whether the sugar is coming from corn syrup or fruit juice concentrates and whether the chemicals are preservatives, artificial flavors, or agrochemical residues. Lesser known hazards found in these formulas however, may be even more important to avoid. Continue reading →