The hemicellulase enzyme breaks down hemicellulose, which is a type of cellulase and a key component of the cell wall in all plants. Different forms of plant hemicellulose include glucans, galactans, xylans, mannans and pentosans. Common fiber-rich breakfast cereals, for example, have a large amount of hemicelluloses (2 to 12%). Hemicellulase is needed to break down these fiber-rich components, and because it is not produced naturally in the human body, we rely on microorganisms that live in the human digestive tract to produce it for us.

The hemicellulase enzyme has the ability to take non-cellulose polysaccharides (long chains of sugars) we eat and convert them into usable constituents. Hemicellulase, which is crucial for the breaking down of fruits, vegetables and many grains is required to break down the “hard” hemicellulose carbohydrates, which are known to slow digestion and the absorption of various nutrients. If we eat large amounts of plant material, but do not have enough hemicellulase, we get a very limited prebiotic intake. These prebiotics are composed of smaller indigestible saccharide units that serve as fuel for various types of probiotics (good bacteria) resident in the digestive tract.

Continue reading: “The Health Benefits of Hemicellulase”

What is Beeswax?

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Beeswax is yet another gift that Mother Nature has given us to improve our lives. You could write a book about the many ways you can use it, but when you head to the store, make sure what you bring home is organic. Why is this so important?

Beehives around the world use pesticides that are fat-soluble, which means they can accumulate in the beeswax. In order to be certified as organic, drugs and chemicals cannot be used on the land within 3 miles of the beehive since this is the bees’ flying radius. It’s not a small endeavor, but it’s worth it to protect your health.

So now that you have your organic beeswax, here are some our favorite uses!

Continue reading: “8 Uses for Organic Beeswax”

It’s important to get adequate amounts of folic acid in the diet for a variety of health reasons, both physical and mental, but mostly for cellular growth and regeneration. In fact, a recent article from the New York Times named folic acid one of the most “luscious micronutrients” found in foods, and multiple studies suggest that a lack of folic acid may lead to mental conditions such as depression.

Physiologically, consuming enough folic acid allows the body to perform many of its essential functions, including nucleotide biosynthesis in cells, DNA synthesis and repair, red blood cell creation, and also helps to prevent anemia. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is perhaps most well known for its applications in the prevention of fetal deformities, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as several types of cancer. The good news is that there are many rich sources of folic acid that are easy to incorporate into your daily diet.

List of Foods with Folic Acid

The following list will discuss the top ten foods with folic acid. Of course, organic is best (especially if you are pregnant!).

1. Dark Leafy Greens

It should come as no surprise that one of the planet’s healthiest foods is also one of the highest in folate. For an immediate boost in folic acid, consider adding more spinach, collard greens, kale, turnip greens and romaine lettuce into your daily diet. Just one large plate of these delicious leafy greens can provide you with almost all of your daily needs for folic acid.

Below is a short list of leafy greens that are high in folic acid.

Continue reading: “15 Foods High in Folic Acid”

What Is Stevia?

Maybe you’ve heard of stevia already, maybe you haven’t. But if not, then it’s time you did! Stevia is a natural sweetener, derived from the stevia rebaudiana plant that was first discovered centuries ago in Paraguay by the native population. But it wasn’t until the late 19th century that a Swiss botanist working in South America documented the so-called “sweet leaf”, and brought it back with him.

These days you can buy stevia in many forms. The most popular is white extract powder, but you can also buy dried stevia leaves, stevia liquid extract, or as small pellets to sweeten your coffee with. The sweet leaf sweetener is also available in its granular form in small packets.

However, the all-natural stevia sweetener is different from sugar in many ways, and there are several reasons why stevia is a better option than sucrose, whether you’re diabetic or just looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle. So let’s go and have a look at them!

1. Stevia is very, very potent

The raw leaves of the stevia plant are approximately 40 times sweeter than sugar, and the powdered sweetener derived from them is up to 200-300 times sweeter. What this means, is that just a tiny bit of stevia will suffice for most of your sugar free recipes. The sweet leaf’s shelf life is about 5 years, so it most certainly is a worthwhile investment.

Continue reading: “7 Reasons Why Stevia is Better Than Refined Sugar”

Earlier this year, the American Heart Association (AHA) called for a nationwide reduction in daily salt intake, along with tighter government and industry regulations regarding the levels of standard table salt (Sodium Chloride) found in everyday foods.

The AHA’s previous suggestion – set forth in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans back in 2005 – called for a maximum upper limit of 2,300 milligrams of salt daily. Most experts now believe that this figure is much too high for the average person, and have lowered the official recommended limit to 1,500 mg per day.

Readily accepted estimates hold that the majority of people consume about twice this newly prescribed amount (roughly one and a half teaspoons of pure salt) each day as part of their regular diet. The bulk of this coming from pre-packaged and restaurant foods. While it’s no secret that the standard American diet is less than ideal, these figures are still cause for concern.

Continue reading: “American Heart Association: Reducing Daily Salt Intake Recommended for Improved Health”