Welcome to the first Emily Jane’s Healing Energetics Newsletter!
This week, I feature
This week's article on “What are OPCs and AMPKs and How They Can Help To Reduce Obesity and Potentially Reverse Type 1 & 2 Diabetes?”
The Yummy-liciousRecipe of the Week from my forthcoming Volume Two of The Alchemist's Cookbook Series - Breakfasts-Light Bites-Breads & Soups – Blood Sugar-Stabilising Breakfast Pancakes, which are high in OPCs and AMPKs as well as Medium Chain Fatty Acids (found in coconut oil and butter), which immediately get to work in our liver creating more energy rather than clogging up our arteries like other fats…...
Two exciting Events coming up in June:-
"A 21st Century Edwardian-Afrikan Extravaganza" in my beautiful Edwardian Villa in Upper St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.Celebrating 100 years since Women were first granted the vote, Emily & Obi are reviving their popular Edwardian-Afrikan Extravaganza! Held in Emily’s stunningly beautiful Edwardian Villa, which she has lovingly restored to its Edwardian splendour, she and Obi C Agor will transport you to another world far from the mundane existence of everyday life..… Combining their extensive knowledge of ‘healthy AND flavoursome foods’ with their unique combination of Emily’s Edwardian Elegance married with Obi’s Exotic Afrikan Flavours, your taste buds will be tingling tremendously as you enjoy your evening……read more
and
This Month’s Talk:-A delightfully relaxing and informative Sunday Afternoon Talk on the seemingly disparate subjects of What is Energy? And The Secret Health Benefits of Weeds’! Find how they are in fact subtly linked by joining Emily McMorran and Obi C Agor on Sunday 1st July 4-6.30pm in Emily’s sublimely natural Edwardian Garden in Upper St Leonards-on-Sea (If the weather is inclement we shall hold our talks inside Emily’s Elegant Edwardian Villa instead!)read more
This Week's Article:-
What are OPCs and AMPKs?
OPCs stand for Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins. They help our bodies to regulate blood sugar. Consequently they can induce weight loss as well as reverse the cell stress and inflammation that is a contributor to diabetes and obesity. OPCs are a group of compounds, which are closely related and are found in the following foods:-
Bilberries - Blackcurrant - Black Tea - Blueberries - Cocoa – Cranberries - French Pine Bark Extract - Grape Seed Extract - Green Tea - Hawthorn - Legumes - Onions - Parsley - Persimmon - Red Wine
Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, OPCs act as antioxidants in our bodies. Antioxidants not only reduce inflammation in our muscles and other tissues but also protect our cells against oxidation and cell stress. Oxidative stress, as this is known, can cause conditions such as diabetes; heart disease; cancer and arthritis. Thus, OPCs are also excellent for improving our circulation and preventing heart disease by improving our capillary health. Another benefit of these foods, is that they can reduced the risk of neurological disorders by improving the blood flow to our brains.
OPCs have been used in the treatment of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes-based retinopathy and macular degeneration because of their ability to reduce blood pressure as well as repairing the blood vessels in our eyes.
Their ability to also improve glucose tolerance enables them to provide both anti-diabetic and anti-obesity benefits. There was a particular study, published in the American Chemical Society that reported the positive effects of certain types of cocoa in helping to prevent obesity as well as Type 2 Diabetes. It was found that the OPCs in cocoa had the following benefits:-
Andrew P. Nelson, one of the authors of the study, stated that cocoa is one of the most flavonol-rich ingredients around. It was found that the flavonols in cocoa – being a form of OPCs – were found to be the most powerful flavonols for helping to counter weight gain and Type 2 Diabetes; much more powerful than even the traditional treatments of consuming tea and red wine, which are also helpful in this regard. The study also concluded that OPCs were fabulous at improving glucose tolerance, which may help towards preventing Type 2 Diabets. The people who took part in the test were given low doses aod OPCs and consequently it protected them against gaining excess weight. Additionally, their blood sugar levels reduced as well.
AMPK stands for Activated Protein Kinase.This is a type of enzyme which is composed of two special amino acids called serine and threonine. AMPK is the enzyme responsible for telling our bodies when to use glucose in situations where we have activated our metabolism, through exercise. Our bodies suddenly feel that there is a lack of fuel and so quickly switch on this important enzyme to kick-start our metabolism. It works in synergy with a special molecule called Adenosine Triphosphate, (known as ATP for short). This molecule is our own unique energy currency of life. It is a high-energy molecule and is found in every cell of our bodes. Its job is to store and supply the cell with needed energy.
When these two combine they move our bodies away from focusing on less critical activities, such as the synthesising the protein in each of our cells, and instead immediately increase energy transporting glucose around our system, thus greatly increasing our metabolism instantly.
This is really important if you suffer from Diabetes or Low Blood Sugar Levels / Hypoglycaemia. Why? Because, by triggering AMPK, your body could potentially release stored sugar in your cells and increase your fat oxidation. These activities combined effectively trick your body into thinking that is exercising and thus starts triggering weight loss!
There have been scientific studies which show that this could also improve the control of insulin released from our cells as well, thus potentially rendering insulin shots obsolete! This theory was supported in a study that revealed diminished AMPK activity in the fat tissue of obese and insulin-resistant test subjects.
So, how can we increase our AMPK levels in our bodies?
Well, the following foods are really high in this enzyme:-
Essentially, if you consume these types of foods, your body will react as it would if you were exercising and you will lose weight without having to actually change your exercise habits.
When you consume any of the foods on this list, it will naturally activate the AMPK system in your body. As a result, your muscle cells will start to take up stored glucose, your fat cells with become oxidized, and the formation of fat (called lipolysis) will be inhibited.
With this knowledge in mind, I created the Blood Sugar-Stablising Breakfast Pancakes,which are high in both OPCs and AMPK.
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