Functional Medicine

WHY EXCITOTOXINS ARE HARMFUL TO OUR HEALTH

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S., CFMP
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Compliments from Functional Medicine University.

Prevent a Heart Attack: Know Your Ratio?

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S., CFMP
When it comes to eating tree nuts the king are Macadamia Nuts.
They are nutritional powerhouses that set themselves apart from the rest because of their high monounsaturated fat, thiamin, and manganese content.

A Nutrient Breakdown of Macadamia Nuts: A True Nutritional Powerhouse
Here's an overview of the nutrients we get from 1 ounce of raw macadamia nuts (28 grams or 10 nuts):

203.5 Calories
3.9 g Carbohydrate
2.4 g Fiber
1.5 g Net Carbs
21.5 g Fat
16.7 g Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
2.2 g Protein
0.34 mg Thiamin (23% DV)
0.05 mg Riboflavin (3% DV)
0.7 mg Niacin (4% DV)
0.21 mg Vitamin B5 (2% DV)
0.08 mg Vitamin B6 (4% DV)
24.1 mg Calcium (2% DV)
0.21 mg Copper (11% DV)
1.05 mg Iron (6% DV)
36.9 mg Magnesium (9% DV)
1.17 mg Manganese (59% DV)
104.3 mg Potassium (3% DV)
1.02 mcg Selenium (1% DV)

5 Science-Backed Benefits of Macadamia Nuts

1: Improves Brain Function
Macadamia nuts contain more healthy monounsaturated fatty acids than any other nut. Two of these monounsaturated fats are known for their brain-boosting benefits: oleic acid and palmitoleic acid.

2: Enhances Heart Health
Not only do the monounsaturated fats found in macadamias boost brain health, but they also help improve most of the biomarkers associated with heart disease risk (i.e., triglycerides, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels).

3: Improves Blood Sugar Regulation
The high amount of palmitoleic acid found in macadamia nuts has been found to increase insulin sensitivity, which plays a major role in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.

4: Reduces Inflammation

5: Supports Gut Health
The soluble fiber in macadamia nuts aids your digestion by feeding your beneficial gut bacteria. In turn, this can improve your gut health.

Summary:
Although all nuts are healthy in some way, it can be argued that the macadamia nut is the healthiest nut.

Let's take a look at some of the advantages that macadamias have over most nuts:

  • They are lower in carbs and net carbs than most nuts.

  • They contain the most thiamin (vitamin B1) compared to other commonly consumed nuts.

  • They have more manganese than most nuts, which helps with nutrient absorption, production of digestive enzymes, bone development, and immune-system defenses.

  • They contain less protein than most nuts

  • They provide us with more healthy monounsaturated fats than any other nut.

  • They have the lowest amount of inflammatory omega-6 fats per serving compared to other commonly consumed nuts.

Compliments from Functional Medicine University.

Prevent a Heart Attack: Know Your Ratio?

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S., CFMP

The published evidence is quite clear in documenting that the actual total cholesterol level itself is not the most important risk factor of cardiovascular disease.

It is the ratio between the level of HDL-"good" cholesterol and total cholesterol that we need to be concerned about.



Therefore, in adults, the HDL-"good" cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio should be higher than 0.24 (just divide your HDL level by your cholesterol).

Or more precisely, the HDL/total cholesterol ratio:

  • 0.24 or higher is considered ideal

  • under 0.24 - low

  • less than 0.10 - very dangerous.


Generally speaking, the higher the ratio, the better (the lower your risk of a heart attack).

However, HDL is closely related to triglycerides.

It appears common for people with high triglycerides to have low HDL's, and these same people also tend to have high levels of clotting factors in their blood stream, which is unhealthy in protecting against heart disease.

Therefore, in adults, the triglyceride/HDL-"good" cholesterol ratio should be below 2 (just divide your triglycerides level by your HDL).

Or more precisely, the triglyceride/HDL ratio:

  • 2 or less is considered ideal

  • 4 - high

  • 6 - much too high


And, since HDL (high density lipoprotein) is protective against heart disease, the lower the ratio, the better.

In other words, the lower your triglycerides, or the higher your HDL, the smaller this ratio becomes.

It is now believed that the triglycerides/HDL ratio is one of the most potent predictors of heart disease.

A Harvard-lead study author reported:

"High triglycerides alone increased the risk of heart attack nearly three-fold.

And people with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL -- the "good" cholesterol -- had 16 times the risk of heart attack as those with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL in the study of 340 heart attack patients and 340 of their healthy, same age counterparts.

The ratio of triglycerides to HDL was the strongest predictor of a heart attack, even more accurate than the LDL/HDL ratio (Circulation 1997;96:2520-2525)."

Compliments from Functional Medicine University.

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