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Tag: liver cleanse

The Lowdown on ‘Superfood’ Inulin Powder

Posted on by venadmin

What is inulin powder?

Foods containing high levels of inulin are earning the ‘superfood’ label because of the seemingly endless health benefits that inulin provides – including its wonderful ability to promote gut health.

Not to be confused with insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar levels, inulin is a type of soluble fibre found in a wide variety of whole, plant-based foods.

Inulin powder is derived from these plant foods through a process of extraction. But here at Flourish, we don’t use extracts. We use plant-based whole foods. And for inulin, we use chicory root – one of the best natural sources of the fibre.

A type of prebiotic, it feeds the good bacteria in your gut and contributes to creating a healthy, balanced gut environment. And a healthy, balanced gut leads to a happier and more balanced you!

Which popular foods contain inulin?

Inulin is found in a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs and roots. Chicory root is a well-known go-to for inulin powder because it has the highest concentration of the prebiotic than any other food.

That being said, inulin can also be found in the following plant-based foods:

  • Jerusalem artichoke
  • Beetroot
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Leeks
  • Asparagus
  • Bananas

4 reasons to introduce inulin to your diet

Inulin has some impressive health benefits not to be overlooked. While the powerful prebiotic is largely known for promoting healthy gut bacteria, it also positively impacts a handful of other bodily functions.

1. Gut health

As discussed above, inulin significantly impacts the gut microbiome – in the best kind of way.

By increasing the number of good bacteria, inulin helps to filter out the bad bacteria that – if given the chance to take control of the gut – can lead to serious health problems.

Having a healthy gut microbiome has been linked to positive changes outside of the gut as well, including improved mental health and a stronger immune system.

2. Blood sugar levels

Inulin has been found to help significantly improve blood sugar levels – something especially beneficial to those with diabetes and prediabetes.

Even if you aren’t diabetic, taking inulin powder is an excellent way to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

3. Weight and appetite

A natural appetite-suppressant, inulin could prove to be an effective way of controlling food intake.

Whether by altering brain activity, increasing production of appetite-suppressing hormones or slowing down the process of emptying the stomach after a meal, studies suggest that inulin can help with weight loss.

4. Bowel movements

Because inulin is a soluble fibre, it helps to regulate digestion and keep the digestive tract functioning well.

Like oats and chia seeds, inulin swells after absorbing water. This aids in relieving constipation by increasing bowel movements and softening stool.

Looking for an easy way to incorporate inulin into your daily routine?

Chicory root, with its high levels of inulin, is definitely deserving of superfood status. The diverse and beneficial properties it contains has many people incorporating it into their daily routine.

We love chicory root for all of its benefits, and specifically because of the way it positively impacts the gut.

That’s why we created our very own chicory root-based Prebiotic Blend. One of our natural, whole food and plant-based prebiotic supplements, this blend is packed with insulin-rich ingredients, from chicory root to green banana.

Try our Prebiotic Blend made with 9 natural, whole food plant-based ingredients

Beetroot Powder For Health and Fitness

Posted on by venadmin

Beetroot powder is packed with nutrients

Straight from the increasingly popular root vegetable, beetroot powder is exactly what the name suggests – powdered beetroot.

Beetroot (or ‘beets’, as the vegetable is commonly known) is a plant-based whole food with a myriad of beneficial health properties.

Beets are loaded with nutrients including fibre, protein, vitamins C & B6, magnesium, potassium, iron and nitrates.

These essential nutrients give the red vegetable its impressive superfood status, and we’ve got 5 reasons why.

5 benefits of beetroot powder for health and fitness

1. Helps with liver function

Beetroot powder is a fantastic addition to your daily routine because of how harmoniously it works with the liver.

With more than 500 different functions, the liver acts as a filtration system that cleanses the blood and removes toxins from our bodies.

Beetroot powder contains the amino acid betaine which prevents and breaks down any fat buildup in the liver. The vegetable also increases natural detoxification enzymes that help to speed up the elimination of toxins from the body.

2. A natural anti-inflammatory

Beets contain betalain, which is the pigment that gives the vegetable its deep red colour.

Betalain is known to fight inflammation throughout the body and reduce the pain associated with chronic inflammatory conditions.

Because chronic inflammation can be a precursor to more serious health conditions, introducing beetroot powder to your diet can help to both prevent and reverse diseases such as Cardiovascular Disease.

3. Supports brain health

Mental cognition can deteriorate with age, as seen in many elderly patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

This deterioration comes from a lack of oxygen and blood flowing through the body and up to the brain.

Beetroot powder can be a crucial tool here because it has the ability to increase oxygen within the blood, increase blood flow to the brain, and improve overall brain function.

4. Lowers blood pressure

Beetroot powder contains a high concentration of nitrates that work to dilate blood vessels and subsequently aid in decreasing high blood pressure.

Because the benefits of consuming nitrates through beets are effective yet temporary, regular consumption of beets is encouraged in order to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

Incorporating beetroot powder twice daily into your normal routine is an easy way to navigate this issue and ensure ongoing optimal blood pressure health.

5. Improves athletic performance

Beets have the ability to increase both stamina and muscle strength, which is important for anyone interested in exercise and movement.

The nitrates in beetroot powder work to increase healthy blood flow to our muscles and respiratory system (just like they do for our brain).

These nitrates also help to power the mitochondria in our cells and enrich them with energy, giving us the strength we need to power through intense workouts and increase endurance.

Our Daily Detox beetroot powder blend is easy to use

If boosting your health and fitness is important to you, we recommend introducing our Daily Detox beetroot powder blend to your diet.

Easy to use and packed with nine other natural plant-based whole foods, our Daily Detox can be mixed with water, blended into a smoothie or added to your favourite chia pudding recipe.

Try our Daily Detox blend to boost your health and fitness

8 Superfoods That Naturally Cleanse Your Liver

Posted on by venadmin

Are you ready for a liver cleanse?

Your liver is responsible for filtering, processing and breaking down the foods and substances that pass through it.

This means that whatever goes into your body will – at some point – go through your liver. This could be anything from healthy nutrients found in fruits and vegetables to harmful toxins like alcohol, chemicals and highly processed foods.

Which is why, when preparing for a liver cleanse, it’s important to know which foods will help your liver function at its full capacity and aid in its natural detox.

1. Beetroot

By helping the liver to cleanse and filter out toxins from the blood, beetroot increases oxygen in the body and helps it to excrete waste at a faster rate.

Our Daily Detox blend combines the beneficial properties of beetroot powder and nine other plant-based foods to help provide natural liver support and supplement your liver cleanse journey.

2. Walnuts

Walnuts are great for the brain AND the liver. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and the amino acid arginine, they help the liver to detoxify ammonia.

Because they help to increase circulation and blood flow, walnuts speed up the process of delivering toxins from various parts of the body to the liver.

This efficient practice speeds up the overall elimination process of toxins from the body.

3. Leafy Greens/Cruciferous Vegetables

Vegetables are powerful plant-based foods with an endless number of health benefits. It is no surprise then, that leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables have made it to the list.

Leafy greens like spinach and mustard greens can soak up environmental toxins from the bloodstream. They help to neutralise metals and other toxins which, in turn, offers the liver some respite from its daily workload.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower contain high levels of fibre and glutathione, an antioxidant that activates the liver’s toxic cleansing enzymes.

4. Citrus

Citrus fruit like lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit contain vitamin C as well as the antioxidant glutathione, which means that eating citrus helps to naturally flush toxins out of the body.

The vitamins and antioxidants in citrus have also been known to help reduce inflammation and fat buildup in the liver, substantially helping its natural detox process.

5. Garlic

Sulphur is a key component of garlic that increases glutathione levels in the body and triggers liver enzymes to fight off and flush out toxic waste.

It also contains selenium, a micronutrient that works to cleanse the liver by increasing toxin-fighting enzyme levels in the organ.

6. Avocado

Packed with good fats, avocados are another food containing the powerful antioxidant glutathione.

This delicious fruit assists the liver with detoxifying waste and heavy metals. And it’s a great addition to any salad, sandwich or green smoothie!

7. Turmeric

An ancient spice with countless beneficial properties, turmeric has been used as a medicinal food for thousands of years.

Our Turmeric Blend is blended with 13 plant-based foods that work as a natural anti-inflammatory, simultaneously helping the liver to repair its cells and rid itself of toxins.

Turmeric also aids the liver in producing bile, a fluid that helps with digestion and the breaking down of fats.

8. Apples

Apples are packed with pectin, a type of soluble fibre that promotes regular bowel movements and subsequently helps to remove toxins from the body.

Apples can also help to protect against fatty liver because of the anti-inflammatory properties that the fruit contains.

A liver cleanse is easy with the right foods

Your liver helps to remove harmful substances from your body and bloodstream. As you can imagine, it is much easier for this powerful organ to do its job when given the right tools.

To rid your liver (and your body) of toxins, start by increasing your daily intake of these 8 superfoods.

You can also help your liver by introducing our Daily Detox beetroot powder to your morning or evening routine.

Start your liver cleanse with our Daily Detox blend

Food and Fibromyalgia

Posted on by Tim Ashton

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a condition with symptoms that include widespread, chronic pain and tenderness in the body. While there is no cure, you can certainly make some lifestyle changes that will minimise symptoms and improve your quality of life.  With supplements such as our turmeric blend, which helps the body’s ability to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain and reduce symptoms associated with many chronic health conditions, our mission is simply to help people from all walks of life achieve a full, healthy and pain-free existence.

In my early 30’s, I contracted the Parvo Virus, the aftermath of which was Fibromyalgia. Every part of my body ached, my muscles were sore to touch, my brain was foggy, and although I regularly went to the gym, the pain from exercise was extremely hard to recover from each day. Getting out of bed caused horrible pain in my feet. The aches became my ‘normal’ until I discovered it was not at all normal. Exercise was not meant to feel so debilitating. I then made the decision to see a Rheumatologist, and that is how my journey into the world of western medicine began.

The list of drugs that I was taking began to get longer and stronger, and it wasn’t until I was prescribed Methotrexate that I wondered if my pain was worsened by my diet. My doctor told me that there was no scientific evidence to support my theory about diet and its correlation to body pain, but as a self-confessed sugar-addict, I made a decision to cut it out for a while and see what happened. Within a few weeks, I was pain-free I could get out of bed and walk normally without pain, a sensation I had not had for years. I was excited. I gave back the script for Methotrexate and began a journey of using ‘food as medicine’, and this is when I started studying to become a Medicinal Nutritionist.

Fibromyalgia and Diet

Over the years of working as a Medicinal Nutritionist, I have come to realise that certain diseases hate certain foods, and, in particular, Fibromyalgia Syndrome hates sugar. If I bring sugar back into my life, I would be inviting the pain of Fibromyalgia back in, too. Another mandatory component of healing from Fibromyalgia is good sleep.

Moving on to the foods that promote healing from Fibromyalgia, we can divide them into two simple food groups: fruits and vegetables. The greater the variety of colour of the fruit on vegetables on your plate, the better you will feel. Intermittent fasting is another thing that Fibromyalgia responds well to aswell. Foods that promote problems and the severity of symptoms include packaged and processed food, such as sugar, alcohol, and meat.

The Flourish blend best suited to aid in the management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome symptoms is our turmeric blend. Once the pain is under control, 1 teaspoon per day, split into two 1/2 tablespoons per day is a wonderful maintenance program. The 1/2 teaspoon at night will also promote good sleep.

Let food be your medicine and change your diet to include more whole-food, plant-based foods, and you will be able to better manage the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. For more information on the healing benefits of food, see our whole food supplements and books, available for purchase on our website.

Lifestyle and Arthritis

Posted on by Tim Ashton

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and stiffness within joints. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, each with a slightly different presentation that involve different parts of the body.

The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is mainly due to wear and tear. It is caused by joints having to work too hard. Think of it like the brake pads in your car – after time and distance, they begin to deteriorate and need replacing. Luckily, you are able to take your car to the mechanic to have your brakes replaced. Unfortunately, that is not as easily done if a joint wears out. While some joints can be surgically replaced, this is only done as a last resort.

Osteoarthritic joints cause pain and stiffness, and, as a result, people who have this condition can find simple tasks that they once performed easily, now painful and tiring. The pain is caused by low-grade inflammation, and this is where the Flourish turmeric blend comes into play. Take 1 teaspoon 1 to 3 times a day, or until the pain has reduced. Then take 1 teaspoon per day for maintenance.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune problem.  The immune system sees the joint tissues as non-self, or as a foreign tissue that needs to be removed from the body. In RA, the joints are often swollen, red and very painful. The pain can be unrelenting, and oftentimes there are many accompanying issues.

The treatment regime will often be anti-immune system medications, which try to dampen down the response by the immune system. Whilst these drugs are often extremely helpful, they are not without nasty side-effects, especially to the liver. This is where our daily detox blend can help. This will help support the liver and protect the liver cells from damage. As for the inflammation, our turmeric blend is a wonderful product to accompany any other treatments. When treating RA, we recommend taking a minimum of 2 teaspoons per day: 1 teaspoon with breakfast, and another at night with dinner. If there is no significant reduction in pain, try adding another teaspoon with lunch.

Foods that Harm

  • Gluten
  • Alcohol
  • Processed and Packaged Food
  • Sugar
  • Red Meat
  • Bacon
  • Dairy
  • Fried Foods
  • Tobacco
  • Preservatives
  • Corn Oil

Foods that Heal

  • Green Leafy Vegetables
  • Ginger
  • Turmeric
  • Broccoli
  • Garlic
  • Walnuts
  • Avocado
  • Berries
  • Cherries
  • Red Grapes
  • Kiwi Fruit

Exercise

Exercise helps tremendously, also, and is just as important as diet. Whilst it may be painful to move, it is important to find an exercise regime that you are able to maintain so as not to loosen the condition of the surrounding muscles. The stronger you are, the better your body is able to cope. Swimming and walking are two easy exercises to incorporate into your daily living.

While we know our supplements can dramatically help in managing both types of arthritis, we strongly recommend overhauling your complete lifestyle through food and exercise, especially when treating RA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Importance of Gut Loving Foods

Posted on by Tim Ashton

There are so many nasty gut issues, ranging from things such as Colitis, IBS, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis, and many others. Symptoms can range from bloating to constipation diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence, bleeding, and a myriad of other problems. While some gut issues are autoimmune in nature, others can be related to things like stress and food intolerances, which can set up a cascade of health complications. All in all, gut health issues are frustrating, debilitating and inconvenient.  The Flourish anti-inflammatory turmeric blend and the prebiotic blend work wonders for anyone with any sort of gut issue.

Treatment

Yes, problems with gut health can vary, but the way we at Flourish treats them is the same.  We use a system called “DEBBIE” :

Diet – the right foods feed the gut flora and create greater diversity

Enzymes – help to break down food for better absorption and digestion

Barrier – leaky gut – decrease autoimmune response

Bacteria – the greater the diversity, the healthier

Immune system – 95% of your immune system lives in the gut

Enteric Nervous System – decreases stress and pain pathways

Diet

As you can see, the first line of fixing your gut issue revolves around diet and making sure that you are consuming plenty of gut-loving foods.  The foods you eat have a direct impact on your gut lining and gut microbes.  Our way of healing the gut is by going back to basics. Just as your mother did after you stopped breastfeeding, the foods you were given then created your gut world. What we do is take out all the offending food and go back to eating basic fruits and vegetables in order to recreate your particular gut world. We eliminate the foods that may be wreaking havoc on your gut health.

No matter where your pain originates, pain equals information. So if you are feeling bloated or have stomach pains of any kind, then it is a sign of inflammati0n. This inflammation needs to be switched off if you are to heal your gut.  Gut diversity – which refers to the number of species you have in your gut – is extremely important, and comes from eating a range of different foods. If your gut is inflamed, however, then diversity does not matter; the gut microbes have gone to sleep and are no longer doing their job. You need to consume a wide range of foods, and you need them all awake and working hard for you if you are to be happy and healthy. Because of this, diet is our number one challenge and treatment plan.

Often, if we get the ‘D’ for diet right, the rest of the ‘DEBBIE’ system falls into place and happens pretty much without intervention.

If you have any private issues or questions that you would like to discuss, please pop online and send us an email. We will be happy to chat, or click the appointment button and come and see us. Again, the Flourish anti-inflammatory turmeric blend and the prebiotic blend work wonders for anyone with any sort of gut issue. The only thing that changes from person to person is the dosage. The worse your problem, the gentler you must be with the dose. Always start small and build up gently.

Holiday Splurging

Posted on by Tim Ashton

80/20 Rule

Maintaining your health during the Christmas/New Year period is no small feat. While there’s nothing wrong with letting your hair down this silly season, keep your Flourish supplements close (especially the organic turmeric powder, beetroot powder, and chicory root prebiotic blend), and take part in a liver cleanse (using our 21 Day Cleanse) afterwards if you plan on splurging.

I am often asked by my patients if they need to be plant-based 100% of the time.  My answer is usually long and drawn out, but the crux of it is, only if you want to stay well.

However, at Christmas/holiday time,  if you wish to consume all the festive fare, then adopt an 80/20 rule.  Make 80% of your plate plant-based and 20% whatever you fancy.

Many then do this, only to feel terrible the next day, or they become bloated within hours of eating all those ‘yummy’ naughty foods that they haven’t had for many months.   Many people find that the symptoms of their health condition will reappear; this will depend upon how long you are ‘naughty’.

Our gut microbiome can change within a twenty-four hour time period, hence why feeling bad again, can happen so quickly.

After years of eating a plant-based regime, I now can’t face the usual Christmas traditional food, I know how I am going to react and feel, so it is an easy choice.  This year I am spending time experimenting with a fabulous main meal for Christmas day, and I will share the recipe once it is perfect.

Most of my patients’ need to find out for themselves, so I usually say knock yourself out on Christmas day, let your hair down, only to be emailed with a ‘HELP’ request the day or week later.

 

Natural Detox

So what if you do let yourself go, how do you recover?

The best way –

(1)  Keep taking the flourish products throughout the festive season, especially the daily detox beetroot powder.   If you do have a bloated moment, a teaspoon of the prebiotic blend with a little turmeric blend and that horrible feeling will go away, usually within 30 – 40 minutes.

(2)  Recover using the 21 day cleanse which is up on our website.  Or at least the first 7 days.   You will need at least the 7 days, to get things back to normal and feel like your healthy self once more, but again this will depend upon how long you have been celebrating.  The full 21 days will give you a much better and more complete outcome, and this is what I always recommend.

Wishing you all a very happy festive/holiday season.

Vegan Vs. Whole Food Plant-Based: What’s the Difference?

Posted on by Tim Ashton

2019 is being touted as the year of veganism – but what is a vegan diet? Our products – which include a beetroot powder supplement, a turmeric blend, and a prebiotic blend – are all both vegan and whole-food, plant-based lifestyle friendly. In this article, we’ll take a look at what makes the two lifestyles different.

Veganism

According to  Wikipedia, veganism “is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and is accompanied by an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals”. A true vegan diet really just means that no animal products are consumed.

Whole-Food, Plant-Based

On the other hand, a whole-food, plant-based diet concentrates more on ensuring that the food you consume is from a “whole” source. In other words, the food you consume is unprocessed or minimally processed. Foods such as refined oils, refined sugars and refined flours are kept to a minimum or not consumed at all.

An example of this is olive oil. Those people following a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle are able to eat olives, however, olive oil – which is highly processed –  is not considered whole and therefore would not be consumed. A whole-food, plant-based diet is made up mostly of whole grains, vegetables, legumes,  beans, nuts and seeds.

The Difference

The word ‘diet’ is not accurate when describing veganism or whole-food, plant-based. While it describes the way a person eats, neither are calorie-restricted.  A better way to describe them would be ‘vegan lifestyle’ or a ‘whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.’ Both usually have a guiding philosophy, and what motivates the two lifestyles can differ significantly. Those inspired to go towards a ‘vegan lifestyle’ usually do so for ethical reasons. They are either driven by the philosophy of stopping cruelty towards animals or wanting a more sustainable environment. Those inspired towards a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle do so more for health reasons. They are looking to prevent or improve a chronic illness.

A simple way of looking at this is by considering the humble Oreo. By some miracle of food science, the Oreo is vegan, and those following a vegan lifestyle are able to consume as many as they like. Those choosing a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle, however, would avoid them and view them as too highly processed, calorie-rich and nutrient-poor, with way too many ingredients, offering no real health benefits. Basically, that is the difference.

We at Flourish promote a whole-food, plant-based, refined oil-free lifestyle because we know and understand that to recover or improve from any health crisis, it is one of the most effective ways to achieve desired results. Our whole food supplements are suitable for both vegan and whole-food, plant-based lifestyles.

Healthy Lifestyle For Fatty Liver

Posted on by Tim Ashton

What is fatty liver?

Fatty Liver is a term usually given to someone whose liver cells contain too much fat. It is diagnosed through a blood test, ultrasound, or MRI. The liver enzymes could be out of range in a blood test, or an ultrasound could show that the liver cells are enlarged and containing fat.

The cause is usually excessive alcohol consumption, but today we are seeing this condition in people who do not drink alcohol, also. If this is the case, it is known as non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Why does it happen? 

The answer is the food we are eating. The standard Australian diet – though improving – is typically filled with foods containing excessive amounts of oil, fat, and refined sugars, which all cause the liver to store fat within its cells. Ageing and the excessive intake of medications can also be a factor. The more processed your diet, the more likely you are to have a Fatty Liver.

The liver is responsible for over 500 different processes within the body. It plays a major role in the production of our hormones, processing foods, detoxifying toxins and filtering harmful substances. Also, it is the only organ in the body that is capable of regeneration. A regeneration cycle is 30-40 days, depending on the size of the person.

Chronic liver disease is often symptomless, or the symptoms are subtle at the least: general fatigue, poor sleep, not waking refreshed, swelling of the legs, weight gain, insulin resistance, thyroid issues, and diabetes are some of the most common. If the condition is at its worst, the symptoms can include a terrible itching of the skin, yellowing of the eyes and skin, weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and swelling, confusion, and death.

Is it reversible?

Yes, we believe it is, but it requires you to make some big changes to your dietary habits, exercise regime, and alcohol consumption.

Dietary Changes needed:

  • Remove fat from your diet
  • Eat a plant-based diet
  • Eliminate meat and diary
  • Eliminate gluten
  • Eliminate alcohol

Optional – for quick and longlasting results:

  • Consume the Flourish Detox Blend – nightly before bed – 1 tablespoon
  • Consume the Flourish Turmeric Blend – ½ teaspoon nightly before bed

It normally takes 30-40 days to see significant changes, or 1 regeneration cycle. If the condition is severe, we recommend continuing the healing regime for a minimum of 3 months.

Because the liver is one of the most important organs in our body, is extremely important to keep it healthy and avoid conditions such as Fatty Liver. By making healthy changes to your diet, regularly exercising, and significantly reducing alcohol consumption, you can not only treat Fatty Liver but reverse it.

How To Reverse Cardiovascular Disease

Posted on by Tim Ashton

What is cardiovascular disease, what causes it, and how do you reverse it? These are the three biggest questions we get asked when we see someone who has been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Overall, a good detox natural detox such as our daily detox beetroot blend, a healthy diet, daily exercise, and stress management can help to treat and reverse cardiovascular disease.

What is it?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a collective name given to diseases that cause a narrowing of the blood vessels. The narrowing of these blood vessels can lead to heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and, ultimately, death.

The Cause

While most people may think it is hereditary, which is a statement that may have some truth behind it, it is by no means the whole story. Our genes only make up 3-5% of what happens to us, and it is the environment that we live in that allows the hereditary part to be expressed.

We at Flourish think that the food we eat makes up the majority of the cause, and stress makes up th rest. The food environment we grow up in usually runs in families, hence why we typically see the same conditions amongst family members. If the entire family eats a predominantly high-fat diet, then diseases associate with that could run in the family. A diet high in fat, refined sugars, meats, dairy, and processed and packaged foods can be the cause of CVD.

Our blood vessels are designed to stay wide and open. The epithelial cells that line the blood vessels release a substance called nitric oxide and its purpose is to keep the vessels open, which allows the blood to flow easily. The flow is called laminar.

When we consume fat in our diet, the nitric oxide is inhibited by the epithelial cells, causing a narrowing. This then causes the blood flow to goo from laminar to turbulent. This turbulent flow causes the blood to bump into the cells, damaging the vessel lining. Our body will then lay down plague as a band-aid trying to heal the damage, which then results in a permanent narrowing of the blood vessels and, in turn, the beginning of CVD.

How to reverse it?

A complete lifestyle change is the best way to reverse CVD. While some may think it is easier said than done, it does not have to be. From a food perspective, it is important to cut out high-fat foods and instead eat foods that strengthen the epithelial cells that line the blood vessels. Foods that help with this are beetroot and green leafy vegetables, amongst others.

Our beetroot detox blend is the perfect supplement for strengthening the blood vessels, working best when taken alongside 6 cups of leafy green vegetables every day. We recommend taking 1 tablespoon of the detox blend in the morning or night, whichever fits your routine best. Exercising for 30 minutes a day will also help significantly.

It is also important to decrease stress, which is probably the hardest lifestyle change. Meditation or prayer is a good place to start, but you will find your own way to decrease external stressors. The best place to de-stress is internally, and by changing the foods you consume, you will see a huge difference in reversing cardiovascular disease.