Do you remember how much you enjoyed eating watermelon as a child? I do, and I still love to eat it every summer.
Watermelons are great for hydrating your body in the hot sun. That’s why watermelon is more than just refreshing and tasty. Watermelon is great for cleansing, weight loss and your health. Don’t let its lightness fool you; it’s packed with nutrition.
Watermelon is an inexpensive way to help you cleanse your body and lose weight. A one cup serving of watermelon is only 47 calories. Yes, watermelon is 92 percent water but that other 8 percent is filled with good nutrition and amazing health benefits. Watermelon is recommended by the American Council on Exercise as a good choice of diet food.

Question: Is there research on whether fish oil supplements help ease joint pain?

Answer:  There is considerable research on fish oils and the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as some limited early research on fish oils and osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, said Dr. Sheldon S. Hendler, co-editor of The PDR for Nutritional Supplements.

The fish oils in the studies are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

“Daily ingestion of at least three grams of a mixture of EPA and DHA for 12 weeks or longer has been found to reduce morning stiffness and the number of tender joints in those with rheumatoid arthritis,” Dr. Hendler said. Those treated were reported to reduce or discontinue use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, he said.

It is becoming increasingly clear that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses - including heart disease, many cancers, and Alzheimer's disease. We all know inflammation on the surface of the body as local redness, heat, swelling and pain. It is the cornerstone of the body's healing response, bringing more nourishment and more immune activity to a site of injury or infection. But when inflammation persists or serves no purpose, it damages the body and causes illness. Stress, lack of exercise, genetic predisposition, and exposure to toxins (like secondhand tobacco smoke) can all contribute to such chronic inflammation, but dietary choices play a big role as well. Learning how specific foods influence the inflammatory process is the best strategy for containing it and reducing long-term disease risks. (Find more details on the mechanics of the inflammation process and the Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid.)

Inflammation is our body’s natural response to injury or stress. If you cut yourself, get an infection or sprain an ankle, acute inflammation is a normal immune system response. However, chronic inflammation occurs when this process goes wrong and starts to affect healthy tissue. This chronic inflammation may play an important role in aging and other illness such as heart disease, arthritis, bone health and allergies.

Poor diet is one of the major contributors to chronic inflammation so incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into your diet is essential.

I love when my work flows together—when this teaching leads to that concept, and all of a sudden another piece of the health puzzle comes into crisp focus.

That’s the experience I’ve had last year. I had just taught an immune intensive class as part of my Holistic Nutrition Lab training for health coaches, and a few short days later, I co-lead the You’re Not the Boss of Me! detox with superstar Canadian chef, Ricki Heller.

In the week between, I got to sit in the middle of the two worlds of immunity and sugar. I connected the dots and found the excellent melding of the two—sensibility that blended as beautifully as cacao and almond butter, or apples and cinnamon, leading to the purity of one of those aha moments.

Okay, here I go…. whole foods.  If you replace everything you put in your mouth that is not 100% whole food with real food, whole food, your body will heal.  It is really that simple.

Dietary Changes

I could give much more information, but making changes, one simple step at a time, is easiest for most people.  Changing the diet from processed, packaged, food “products” to 100% whole food is a huge change for most people.  Seriously think about what you eat for each meal and every snack.  How many food items were manufactured in a factory?  How many were created by nature and nature alone (no human meddling)?