Is Caffine Good for You?

Caffine - How Does it work?

There is a chemical in our brain called Adenosine that makes us tired, by attaching itself to the nerves in our brain. This slows down our brain telling out body that we need sleep. Caffine looks to the brain like Adenosine and attaches to these nerves so the adenosine cannot. Because the brain isn't getting the slow down signal from the adenosine, it speeds up and works harder.

Photo by: Flickr's Charles Haynes

Your body then notices all this crazy activity happening and thinks there is an emergency so it releases Adrenaline. This is the cause of the "caffine high". In simple terms, adrenaline is released as a survival tactic, and it basically allocates as much of your bodies resources as it can spare to get you ready for a fight for your life.

This is a good reaction if you are going to be in a fight as it is more important to survive, but where do these resources come from?

One adverse effect is that your body cannot release immune cells to fight harmful bacteria. This is due to the increased blood flow to the body.

Another adverse effect to adrenoline is the amount of waste and toxins that are produced. In the bodies heightened state, metabolism is sped up and more of the bodies resources are consumed. This in turn produces more waste and toxins that the body needs to remove. Many of these toxins are removed through physical action (Muscle contractions). But in today's office environment people drink a cup of coffeee and then get no physical activity, leaving this build up of toxins.

So What?

Looking back, these downfalls are not a big deal if your body only experiences these adreline rushes every so often, and when it needs it. It's terrible for you if its a full time thing. These adreline rushes are caused by things like stress, caffine, MANY drugs (stimulants and diet drugs) and other situations that make body thing you are in danger. This leads me to conclude that living a drug (caffeine is a drug) and stress free life, signifigantly increases your health.

Side Note: It seems like I am making the same point in every post: A build up of toxins is not good for your body! For my next post I am going to research how exactly your body rids itself of toxins, and what we can do to help it, but I have a feeling I already know the answer: Eat only simple natural foods and exercise.

The Sun vs. Cancer - Is Sunscreen the answer?

Found this cool article on how the sun affects our bodies. It's something I've been thinking about lately, and I agree with the guys at paleodietblog on this one. It's a shame that me and the sun don't get along and I have to wear sunscreen or I'll be sun burnt for 5 days afterwards.

Which brings an interesting point, it sounds like we are reverse evolving. Our ancestors must have been able to withstand the sun, as they were in it all day with no sun screen. Over the generations of being inside for the large part of the day, and more recently (turn of the century) the wearing of sunscreen, our bodies can no longer handle the sun.

Check the following link for a more in depth analysis on why sun screen maybe the cause of cancer, and why our bodies need the sun.

http://www.paleodietonline.com/2007/11/sun-friend-or-foe.html

Paleo Diet Thanksgiving Recipes

It's that time of the year, and if you are gunna stuff your face with the rest of America, at least do it according to the paleo diet. I have the recipes for a complete Caveman Thanksgiving!!! Share the gift of the paleo diet with your friends and families too!

First the most important thing: THE TURKEY!!!!

Turkey with Fruit-and-Nut Stuffing

From: http://www.marthastewart.com/Nav/television_prog.html

Today, Martha stuffs a free-range organic turkey from upstate New York with
a fruit-and-nut stuffing that contains neither bread nor rice, the
conventional foundations for stuffing. You will need to soak the dried
fruit overnight in bourbon (named for Bourbon County, Kentucky), which,
aside from the whole raw cranberries in this recipe, is perhaps the most
American of its ingredients.

If the nuts are salted, place them in a strainer, run cold water over them,
and then dry on paper towels. After you've stuffed the turkey, insert an
apple into the cavity to seal it. Sew the turkey with a trussing needle and
string. Then truss the turkey with string and poultry lacers—
stainless-steel skewers used to secure the stuffing in the neck end of the
cavity.

Always take care to stuff the bird just before cooking. To ensure that the
stuffing cooks evenly, don't overstuff the bird. Never mix raw meat or
vegetables into a stuffing, and don't leave either stuffing or turkey
sitting out for more than two hours.

FRUIT-AND-NUT STUFFING
Makes about 10 cups

18 whole pitted prunes
1/2 cup dried currants
1 cup dark raisins
24 dried apricot halves
1/4 cup orange juice
3 tart cooking apples, unpeeled, cored, chopped
3 large onions, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
6 tablespoons olive oil
2/3 cup whole macadamia nuts, unsalted
2/3 cup whole brazil nuts
1 cup walnut pieces
2 cups whole raw cranberries
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried chervil leaves
1 teaspoon finely minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 eggs, slightly beaten

1. Put the prunes, currants, raisins, and apricot halves in a bowl, and
pour the orange juice over the fruit. Cover bowl, and soak overnight.
2. Combine the apples, onions, and celery in a large skillet along with
four T olive oil. Cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring
occasionally, until the onions are soft and the celery is tender, about 10
minutes.
3. Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a skillet and add the nuts. Toast them,
stirring constantly, until golden.
4. Transfer the sautéed onion mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add the
macerated fruit, the toasted nuts, and all remaining ingredients. Gently
mix the stuffing with 2 large spoons or your hands until evenly blended.
Set the stuffing aside while you prepare the turkey for roasting.
5. After the turkey has been stuffed, any remaining stuffing can be cooked
separately. Place stuffing in an oiled baking dish, cover and bake at 350
degrees for about 45 minutes until heated through.

Cranberry Sauce with Dried Apricots

From: elanaspantry.com
1 pound fresh cranberries
1 ½ cups water
½ cup dried apricots, cut into quarters
¼ cup currants
2 tablespoons agave nectar
¼ teaspoon ginger zest
1 teaspoon orange zest

1. Pick through the cranberries, discarding the soft and rotten ones, wash the rest
2. Place cranberries and water in pot, bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer for 10 minutes
3. Add the apricots and currants, simmer for five minutes
4. Add agave, orange and ginger zest and simmer five minutes

As far as vegetables are concerned, be sure to follow the Paleo Diet Guidelines. This means no Corn, Beans, Legumes (Including Green Beans). I suggest a nice lemon asparagus and the following recipe:

Grilled Harvest Vegetables

From: http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/
Ingredients:
1 small cabbage, cored
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon onion powder, optional
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 celery ribs, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 small onion, cut into wedges
1/2 pound whole fresh mushrooms
1 small green pepper, cut into pieces
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, optional

Directions:
Cut cabbage into 6 wedges; spread oil on cut sides. Place cabbage on a piece of heavy-duty foil, about 24 by 18-inch. Sprinkle with onion powder, if desired, and pepper. Arrange remaining vegetables and bacon (if desired) around cabbage. Seal the foil tightly.

Grill, covered, over medium-hot heat for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender, turning occasionally.

And Don't Forget Dessert:

Cinnamon Walnut Turtles

From: http://living-foods.com
Note: Various spices and nuts can be substituted. Can add coconut and dried fruits.

Ingredients:
2 cups walnuts
1 cup raw honey
1/2 cup cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
In a large bowl, mix honey, cinnamon and vanilla into paste. Stir in walnuts until thoughly coated. Form into small clusters and dehydrate at least 24 hours

Hope this makes for a great thanksgiving!! I wqould love to hear stories and see pictures! Have a Happy Turkey Day!

Are these food really health foods?

I typically do not agree with what Men's Health has to say on nutrition advice, but I was reading an article today that would have really helped me out 3 years ago. I, like others, used to think anything that was "Fat Free" or "Low Calorie" was healthy for me, but i now know better.

This is a great list of things people think are healthy, and why they aren't.

http://tinyurl.com/2r8de5

Coconut Water - A Natural Cure for Hangovers!!!!

If you are like me and haven't phased alcohol completely out of your diet, then you will find this interesting.

Photo by Flickr's Chasqui

The gist is that coconut water is very high in natural Electrolytes and Potassium, exactly what alcohol depletes your body of. Instead of drinking gatorade, with lots of High fructose corn syrup and lots of bananas, drink a glass of Coconut Water in the morning. It's only 46 calories for cup (8 ounces) and actually tastes pretty good.

Note: Coconut Milk != Coconut Water.

Found it at http://www.paleodietonline.com/2007/10/gatorhinder.html

But they go into the effects it has on hangovers more at: http://tinyurl.com/yww3g5

Why Antioxidants?

Anyone that has a TV or reads a magazine can tell you that "Anti-Oxidants" are synonymous with healthy. But ask any of them why, and you're gunna get a nice blank stare. Well I did some reading and figured out just why they are good for you.

So there are these things called Free-Radicals. If you are satisfied with me telling you that they are bad for you skip to the next paragraph. If you want the technical mumbo jumbo read on. Free-radicals are extra electrons that are broken off when a weak electron bond is split. These free radicals are very unstable and will attempt to bond with anything they can. Picture a single + magnet in a huge pile of other + magnet.

Photo by Flickr's hexod.us

Free Radicals are produced all the time, but are only dangerous when there is a large build up that the body can't get rid of. It has also been found that cigarette smoke, herbicides, microwaves, pollution and radiation cause free radicals.

How does the body deal with free radicals?

That's right, anti-oxidants. *Scientific Jargon Warning* An anti-oxidant is a nutrient that has a very strong bond that can afford to pick up the free radicals without creating more of them. So it's basically a vacuum cleaner for all the free radicals in your body.

Where can I get these anti-oxidants from?

They are abundant in anything high in Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Vitamin E is a fat soluble anti-oxidant and Vitamin C is a liquid soluble anti-oxidant, so it is important to get both as they do different things.

But before you start eating nothing but Goji Berries (Berries that are VERY high in anti-oxidants) remember the general rule of life. Pretty much everything is good for you when done in proportion. In fact there are even times when your body purposely produces free radicals, in order to fight bacteria or viruses in your body. If you are eating 5-8 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, you are getting plenty of anti-oxidants.

For more information: Check out: http://www.healthchecksystems.com/antioxid.htm

Our closest Ancestors, Drunken Hunters?

I tivo'd a show on Chimpanzee's that I have been watching bits of every morning when I eat breakfast. Seeing as how chimpanzee's are our closest relatives, I thought it would offer some incite into a more natural diet for humans. I found it very interesting to find that there diet is primarily sweet fruits and what ever they can kill. That's right, those cute little animals are actually hunters.




The show went into detail about how they can often be found hunting monkeys, because, well they like the taste of meat. Can you blame them??
On a side note, the african natives are also making a type of banana liquor, by fermenting banana's that the chimps really like. However, the animals are starting to attack human babies local scientists think that this liquor may have something to do with it.

The chimpanzee's are also known to enjoy the occasional tree trunk full of honey, when ever they can find it.

If you haven't seen it yet, you should also check out the Planet Earth - Jungle episode, in which a tribe on chimps attack another tribe for control over a fig tree. I don't want to ruin it for you, but it is not for the squimish.