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quantum health & wellness blog
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Quercetin is a flavonol (the yellow pigment present in plants) found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves and grains. It can be used as an ingredient in supplements, beverages, or foods. I occasionally get hives and quercetin really helps to reduce the pain and itch, letting me sleep better and function throughout the day. It doesn’t cause drowsiness and helps with oxidative stress, plus it has many other health benefits including supporting respiratory and cardiovascular health. Allergies are a sign of something bigger that I will explore further in my next post, but quercetin is a healthy way to deal with the uncomfortable symptoms. Natural Factors Bioactive Quercetin EMIQ (enzymatically modified isoquercitrin) is a highly bioavailable form of quercetin – a flavonoid that exerts significant anti-allergy effects. Main benefits:
Side effects of antihistamines include:
By Michelle Pascal, Registered Holistic Nutritionist 
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 Whether you’re dairy-intolerant or simply looking for other ways to supplement with calcium, it’s easier than you think to find natural sources of it in everyday foods. Cow’s Milk Cow’s milk has three times more protein and almost four times more calcium than human milk. This amount is suited to a growing calf, but is in excess of human needs. This will create some waste matter in the body and present as symptoms of excess in humans, especially if our organs of elimination are blocked or stagnant. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in human milk is 2.35:1, but only 1.27:1 in cow’s milk. An optimal ratio is 2:1. An imbalance of phosphorus can combine with calcium in the digestive tract and prevent absorption of calcium. The addition of Synthetic vitamin D in milk encourages calcium to be deposited in the wrong places causing cardiovascular injury and calcification of the kidneys (kidney stones) and other organs Pasteurization and Homogenization Pasteurization has eliminated many infectious diseases, but has also decreased the nutrient content and life-sustaining energy field of milk. Homogenization, the process of breaking milk molecules into smaller pieces, allows elements of milk to pass through the intestinal wall unchanged by the digestive process. One such element called xanthine oxidase, is picked up by the lymphatic system and deposited in the bloodstream after passing through the intestines. As it courses through the arteries, it scratches and corrodes the inside of the arterial walls, causing lesions upon which the body deposits fibrin and cholesterol to avoid further damage. Calcium As a society, we have been brainwashed to believe that it is necessary to consume milk and dairy products in order to receive an optimal amount of calcium. When a person is calcium deficient it is because the body is unable to assimilate and utilize calcium properly. Many foods affect our body’s calcium balance, by either adding calcium in an unbalanced way, counterbalancing, draining calcium from the system, or causing calcium to be deposited in inappropriate locations such as soft tissue. Calcium absorption is hindered by poor liver and gall bladder function, a lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, a diet high in meat (particularly red meat) and physical and emotional stress. Insomnia and muscle cramps indicate calcium magnesium imbalance. To get sufficient calcium in your diet one should include plenty of alkaline foods to enhance absorption of calcium, avoid or limit caffeine (leaches calcium from the bones), and include more vegetarian meals and whole foods that are high in calcium. The following list includes many foods that contain calcium in a natural, easy to assimilate form:
Foods that Affect Calcium Balance Dairy products: the unbalanced relationship with phosphorus causes a fair amount of calcium to be incompletely absorbed or incorrectly assimilated. Concentrated sugars: the acidic nature of concentrated sweeteners depletes the body of minerals that aid in the absorption and assimilation of calcium. They also deplete the phosphorus level in the body, thereby blocking calcium absorption. High Protein foods: The acidic nature of these foods acidifies the blood, and acidified blood will dissolve calcium from the bones. It has been suggested that vegetarians have significantly lower rates of osteoporosis. Nightshades: Due to their high alkaloid content, nightshade foods may subtly remove calcium from bones and deposit it in joints, kidneys, arteries and other areas of the body where it does not belong. Wine, vinegar and citrus: because of their natural acidity, these foods require the buffering action of calcium during metabolism. If necessary, calcium will be taken from teeth and bones to accomplish this. Lemons and raw apple cider vinegar are not acidic. Caffeine, alcohol and salt: As with other acid-forming foods, these will demineralize the system through the action of buffering. By Michelle Pascal, Registered Holistic Nutritionist   Water Kefir Grains by Cultures for Health (CFH) are now available at Quantum Vitamins. Are you wondering what water kefir is and how it differs from milk kefir? Read on to learn more. Water kefir grains create a carbonated lacto-fermented beverage from sugar water, fruit juice, or coconut water. Incredibly easy to use, the starter culture can create a new batch of water kefir every 24 to 48 hours. Water kefir makes a fantastic non-dairy alternative to milk kefir and can be flavoured to make a range of delicious beverages, or as an ingredient in many recipes. Your family will love it! Julie Feickert, CFH Founder, explains why she loves this product: Water kefir is one of my favourite cultured foods. Water kefir is particularly easy to make; I generally spend about 5 minutes every 48 hours to make it. Since it's commonly made with sugar and water, it's also a very inexpensive beverage. While there are several types of cultures available for making kefir, I prefer to use water kefir grains because they are reusable and sustainable. As long as you care for them (it's simple!) they will continue to make batch after batch for you. Want to learn more about water kefir grains? Check out Julie's blog post; 10 Reasons Water Kefir is One of My Favorite Foods.  |
Michelle Pascal
Michelle, owner of Quantum Vitamins, is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and chef who lives in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia. >>More Categories
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