Delicious Kookies

Antioxidants 101

We've all heard of free radical damange and the power of anti-oxidants, right? Well, if not, here is the perfect time to learn a little bit about how anti-oxidants affect your health, your beauty, longevity, and more. If so, well, you can refresh yourself on the the subject. Free radicals (the antagonist) are the by-product of our bodies turning oxygen into energy. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are the toxic free radicals that are responsible for cellular damage. Their highly-reactive nature is what makes them so dangerous and potentially responsibly for chronic disease and also thought to be the driving force of human aging. We all have free radicals in our bodies and are exposed to them daily in the form of heated fats and oils, or as a result of atmospheric radiation, and environmental pollutants.

An anti-oxidant (protagonist) on the other hand, plays of the role of the free-radical destroyer/scavenger, it helps reverse or prevent the oxidation (damage). This is why consumption of anti-oxidants is a powerful preventative measure against disease, chronic illness and degeneration. Most people are deficient in anti-oxidants because there are so many factors that contribute to their depletion including smoking, over-the-counter or perscription drugs, high quantities of caffeine, long-term emotional or physical STRESS (more on that later), smog, and other lifestyle/environmental factors.

Just what is an antioxidant?
It can be confusing because we talk about certain foods, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, hormones, herbs, and chemicals, calling them antioxidants.

My favorite answer to this ongoing question comes from Dr James Balch's book The Super Anti-Oxidants: "an antioxidant is any substance that can help us fight the rust-rot syndrome caused by free-radical damage."

So often these vital nutrients (antioxidants) get overlooked because we are too focused on the macronutrients -- carbohydrates, fat and protein. Our bodies need more than JUST a balance of protein, fat and carbs but so little attention is given to the importance of these other nutrients when it comes to disease prevention, weight loss and life span.

You can add a significant amount of years to your life by changing the way you eat and other lifestyle habits. Eating a variety of fresh raw foods will give you a balance of micro and phyto nutrients your body needs, plus they are energizing -- live foods feed life -- and hydrating (contain high water content). Nutrients/antioxidants are the catalyst to every chemical reaction on a cellular level in the body and it's those chemical reactions that are responsible for every bodily function; they keep our brains thinking, muscles contracting, eyelids blinking, toes curling, mouths moving, lips puckering, tastebuds alive, fingers typing (my most personal favorite), etc.

For this reason, I always encourage people to look at the source from which they derive the protein, fat and carbs. Yogurt (or cheese) for example, has an abundance of protein and fat and a few carbs (depending on the flavor), however, raw almonds have a similar ratios of macronutrients but they also contain FIBER, EFAs, enzymes, as well as antioxdants (such as manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, copper, vitamin B2, phosphorus and potassium). Not to mention, almonds are notorious for their cholesterol lowering effects while dairy often contains cholesterol. (note: Raw Organic milk, cheese and yogurt are better options compared to their heated, pasteurized counterparts)
In Laymans Terms: if you still prefer the steak (ROS), make sure you accompany it with some raw fresh vegetables (anti-oxidants)!

SOME IMPORTANT ANTI-OXIDANTS:

Vitamins/Minerals/Hormones
Lycopene
Co-Q-10
Carotenoids (Lutein, Beta Carotene, etc.)
Vit A, K, B, C, E
Folic Acid
Selenium
Melatonin
DHEA
Flavenoids
Bioflavenoids
Enzymes
SOD
Foods
Whole
Fiber-Rich
Green (chlorophyll)
Garlic
Alfalfa
Man-Made
Barley grass
Herbs
Milk Thistle
Ginko
Aloe Vera
Chlorella

If you have any questions, please feel free to post a comment and I will get back to you.
Thanks -- Juli Novotny

Big FAT KK Controversy

What some people may not realize about KOOKIE KARMA products is that they are low-glycemic (low on the GI chart) and made with sweeteners that are safe for diabetics. This might not seem all that important or exciting to the people who are not diabetic, however, more and more people are realizing the health benefits of eating a diet rich in low-glycemic foods.

"Sustainable energy" is a commonly used phrase amongst athletes, nutrition experts, and doctors alike to clarify the difference between simple carbs (i.e. table sugar, candy) and complex carbs (unrefined grains). The less-common phrase "glycemic response" explains this same theory and the relationship between food, the hormone insulin (responsible for weight gain and diabetes), glucose, blood sugar and energy levels from a more scientific viewpoint.

The Glycemic Index (GI) of a particular food is a number given to measure how fast the sugar is released into the blood after consumption and how fast a food is likely to raise your blood sugar. The higher the GI, the quicker the release (not optimal for sustainable energy). Eating slow-releasing carbs and foods (low GI foods) can help with controlling blood sugar, weight gain, diabetes, high cholesterol and much more. Low GI foods rank anywhere between 0-40 and high GI foods range between 60-110.

Kookie Karma products do NOT USE DATES but rather low GI sweeteners, such as Agave Nectar. Did you know that dried dates have a GI rank of 109? Did you know that MOST (almost all) raw food bars and cookies use dates as a sweetener but claim "no sugar"? According to the body, DATES ARE SUGAR.

In addition, conventional thinking has been that because the fat we eat has more calories than carbohydrates do, dietary fat has been the main culprit in obesity. But, that is not in fact the case--the crucial human hormone, insulin, which is produced by the body when blood sugar levels are high, plays a crucial role and has not been given the attention it deserves. Evidence clearly shows that our bodies can’t readily burn fat when our blood sugars levels are high. It seems our obsession with dietary fat in the last few decades has blinded us to the problems associated with high GI. If these researchers are right, a high glycemic index diet isn’t just making us fat – it could be killing us as well.

In conclusion, FAT DOES NOT MAKE US FAT, CARBS do not make us FAT! It's the SOURCE and TYPE of foods we are eating that make us fat! LOW - GI foods are the key to weight control, optimal health and nutrition.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GI HERE