Prevent Grilled Food from Charring Your Health
Summer is a great time of year to enhance your health. With an abundance of fresh produce, opportunities for outdoor exercise, vacations and more — there’s a lot we can do to boost vitality. But there’s also a big summer health risk that many of us aren’t aware of, and research shows it impacts metabolic health, cellular function, and more. Furthermore, this Fourth of July favorite significantly speeds up aging.
The culprit? Grilled meat. Luckily though, science is demonstrating how to avoid the risks of enjoying a great BBQ, simply by spicing things up – so you can have your (grass-fed) steak and eat it too!
Antioxidants to the Rescue
The problem with grilling or cooking meat at high temperatures is that the process creates a number of toxic compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). When we eat these free radical health-robbers, they can damage cellular health and DNA integrity, disrupt cellular communications, fuel inflammation, and affect numerous areas of health including glucose balance, insulin function, vitality and aging – the list goes on.
But a number of studies show that by marinating or cooking meat with antioxidant-rich spices and ingredients, we can significantly reduce the number of toxic compounds that end up on our plate. Interestingly, some research suggests that a shorter marinade time leaves a higher number of antioxidants in the meat. So for optimal benefits, try marinating for no more than a few hours in the fridge, or brush the marinade directly onto the meat right before grilling.
Top antioxidant ingredients for a protective marinade include:
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Onion
- Basil
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Tart cherry
- Sage
Around the world, spices have been used in traditional cooking for millennia. Now, an abundance of scientific data substantiates their time-honored status, proving that they’re not just great for flavor, but long term anti-aging benefits as well.
Spice up your vitality with a zesty marinade recipe for optimal health. Here’s one of our favorites, inspired by Jacob Schor, ND:
Puree in a blender:
- ½ cup of olive oil
- 1.5 cups frozen unsweetened cherries
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tbsp. turmeric
- Juice from ½ lemon
- 2 tbsp. fresh rosemary
- ¾ onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
Marinate organic, lean meat anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, and reserve some marinade to brush on before cooking. Enjoy!
Metabolic and Digestive Support Supplements
Another great way to support a healthy metabolism and slow the aging process is with scientifically researched natural ingredients including antioxidant-rich herbs, botanicals and nutrients. ecoNugenics ecoMetabolic™ and Integrative Digestive Formula contain unique blends of traditional Asian botanicals, targeted nutraceutical ingredients and medicinal mushrooms to help support healthy glucose balance, digestive function, natural energy and more.
This summer, support vitality and overall wellness with ecoNugenics physician-formulated natural health solutions.