John Douillard's LifeSpa | Ayurveda + Natural Health
Ancient Wisdom meets Modern ScienceAyurveda + Natural Health News
In this section, you will find well-documented articles citing foods, substances, supplements and herbs that should be avoided. In most cases, the pros and cons regarding these items are discussed allowing you to make your own choice about the frequency of ingesting these products. The purpose of this section is to educate you on how to stay out of harm’s way by avoiding toxic substances.
When the Organic Consumers Association found traces of the herbicide RoundUp, aka glyphosate, in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, little did they know that was just the tip of the iceberg… Most people think of Ben & Jerry’s as a healthy brand of ice cream but, upon closer inspection, they are not much different than
When shopping for herbal supplements, few people realize the differences that exist from one brand to the next. There is new evidence that provides deep insight into the differences between herbal extracts and an unprocessed, naturally dried product. While extracts have been considered to be a more concentrated, therefore more potent, bang for your buck,
Is European Bread Better? Why does European wheat seem to digest better than American wheat? I work with many patients to reintroduce wheat into their diet. Many of them report that when they go to Europe, they can eat bread without difficulties, but when they consume bread stateside, they have digestive-related symptoms. Why might this
Average Reading Time: 4 minutes and 36 seconds Licorice root, harvested from the roots and underground stems of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, has been used worldwide for thousands of years as an herbal medicine and added sweet flavor to food and beverages. In traditional Ayurveda, as well as in Chinese medicine, the whole root was
Average Reading Time: 3 minutes and 57 seconds While stringent standards have been set by the International Olive Oil Council and the United States Department of Agriculture to regulate the purity of olive oil sold in the U.S., according to a UC Davis study, a high percentage of the U.S. olive oil brands do not
Average Reading Time: 3 minutes and 33 seconds While wheat is not an approved GMO food anywhere in the world, Monsanto conducted experiments from 1998 to 2000 using GMO wheat in the Pacific Northwest. This variety of genetically-modified wheat, called MON 71700, was designed to be resistant to the herbicide, glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup.
Possible Side Effects of Digestive Enzymes Dependency Weaker digestion Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency Blockage of bile ducts Blockage of pancreatic ducts Digestive distress Recurring digestive concern Address symptoms, leaving cause to worsen Gas Bloat Belching Nausea Sluggish elimination Poor gallbladder function Decreased stomach acid production Decrease duodenal enzyme production If you’re taking digestive enzymes, you may
For many years, public health experts have warned against eating certain kinds of fish, including tuna, that tend to accumulate mercury. But recently, as industry cuts down on its mercury emissions (whether it be by new enforced standards or better business practices), research has found mercury concentrations in some fish are dropping! Mercury levels in
Average Reading Time: 5 minutes and 44 seconds In the 1960s, heart disease was on the rise and researchers blamed saturated fats or cholesterol on the new epidemic. Since that time, any food, activity, nutrient or substance that lowered cholesterol was automatically deemed beneficial for heart disease. Vegetable oils – more specifically omega-6 polyunsaturated fats
Average Reading Time: 6 minutes and 12 seconds Trans fats and processed vegetable oils are found in almost every packaged food and are linked to compromised digestive systems, and the epidemics of pre-diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity, and cardiovascular events. (7) Back in 2006, the FDA issued a regulation that requires manufacturers to disclose the
Average Reading Time: 2 minutes Food manufacturers have engineered our foods to have a longer shelf life, be easier to digest, and satiate us more quickly and inexpensively – and without the hassle of cooking in many cases! What could be better, right? Truth be told, in order to deliver all of these modern conveniences,
Average Reading Time: 5 minutes and 42 seconds In the last 10,000 years, our diets have changed dramatically. Just about every food has been domesticated, naturally selected or hybridized to be tastier, sweeter, easier to eat or less poisonous. Poisonous nightshades, for example, including potatoes and tomatoes were farmed to be bigger and sweeter, with
