Without anyone noticing, they stopped showing the results of hundreds, if not thousands, of non-institutional health websites — some of them quite reputable and well-established.

In a nutshell, Google has stopped showing you the information that you want to see. Instead, Google is taking it on themselves to decide what health information you are allowed to see.

This censorship has come in the form of Google deliberately placing a systematic penalty on the vast majority of health sites to make sure that they don’t show up on the first page of search results. This includes SelfHacked, our flagship website where we have been providing information on natural, science-based health topics for many years.

If you haven’t already heard about this, you’re probably thinking that I sound crazy, but if you don’t believe me, just look up the terms “natural cancer treatments” in Google and Bing. Check out the difference in the types of results that you see on the first page.

Or you can try to do a Google search for any other health information, and look at which websites show up on the first page – websites owned by big corporations, usually aligned or partnered with pharmaceutical companies. Google (Alphabet) itself has a pharmaceutical division.

The Problem with Google’s “Thought Policing”

Some people might say that Google is a private company and they can run their search engine however they want. That may be true, except for the lack of transparency from Google about what they are doing.

Google has been pretending like there’s an algorithm that is fair and anyone can rank so long as their content is high quality. This used to be true, but not anymore.

Most people don’t use Google thinking that they are taking sides in a debate or suppressing thousands of health websites because they don’t align with Google’s ideology — they see it as a tool or medium to find information.

Users don’t see it as Google’s job to tell you what you should be looking for, or what you should or shouldn’t be allowed to know about. Searchers want Google to give them the information they are seeking.

Google is being dishonest by pretending to be an unbiased medium — but in actuality, they are pushing their agenda and ideology onto people.

Now, if people are “cheating” and using “black-hat” SEO tricks to inflate their rankings, then I completely understand why those sites should be penalized. But we followed all of the rules, and we’re still being censored.

All of our content is backed by science, written by scientists and reviewed by medical professionals. Despite this, we were penalized and have not

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19 Factors that May Stimulate the Vagus Nerve

When to See a Doctor

If your goal is to stimulate your vagus nerve to improve your mood- or extreme stress-related issues – including those of panic disorders or anxiety – it’s important to talk to your doctor, especially stress if it is significantly impacting your daily life.

Major mental changes, such as excessive sadness, panic, persistent low mood, euphoria, or anxiety, are all reasons to see a doctor.

Your doctor should diagnose and treat any underlying conditions causing your symptoms.

Remember that the existing evidence does not suggest that low vagal tone causes anxiety or mood disorders. Complex disorders like anxiety always involve multiple possible factors – including brain chemistry, environment, health status, and genetics – that may vary from one person to another.

Additionally, changes in nerve tone and brain chemistry are not something that people can change on their own with the approaches listed here. Instead, the factors mentioned in this article are meant to reduce daily stress and support overall mental health and well-being. Most are backed up only by limited human or animal studies.

Therefore, you may try the strategies listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate. Read through the approaches we bring up and discuss them with your doctor before trying them out. This is particularly important if you plan to take any dietary supplements.

Supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective.

Finally, have in mind that none of these strategies should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.

1) Cold

According to one study on 10 healthy people, when the body adjusts to cold temperatures, your fight-or-flight (sympathetic) system declines and your rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) system increases, which is mediated by the vagus nerve. In this study, temperatures of 50°F (10°C) were considered cold [R].

Sudden cold exposure (39°F/4°C) also increases vagus nerve activation in rats [R].

Although the effects of cold showers on vagus nerve tone haven’t been studied, many people advocate for this traditional cooling method.

When we think about it, all showers were cold showers before the advent of water-heating techniques. Anecdotally, cold tubs are popular in Japan, while many Northern nations partake in dips

The post 19 Factors That May Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve Naturally appeared first on SelfHacked.

There are a huge number of ketogenic recipes in this post, there are even more in our Lectin Avoidance Diet Cookbook, check it out if you want to make eating healthy easier and more delicious than ever!

What are Keto Recipes?

While the ketogenic diet’s original purpose was to address childhood epilepsy back in the 1920s, this diet has recently dominated the weight-loss industry as a delicious and efficient way to lose unwanted pounds fast.

It’s been featured in mainstream magazines, such as Marie Claire, and even celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Halle Berry are jumping on board. Why so popular? Well, not only is it so effective for a number of different ailments beyond weight loss, but it also improves cognitive performance and is DELICIOUS! Don’t believe it? Try out the following recipes.

All the recipes included below are even dairy-free ketogenic recipes.

Keto Breakfast Recipes

Keto breakfasts are easy! Bacon & eggs fit the bill. Just lose the toast (or make some with some keto bread) and you are good to go. However, if you want to mix it up a bit, check out some other options below.

Keto Smoothies

Beyond the go-to beverage, Bulletproof Coffee or hot buttered coffee, one easy keto breakfast idea is smoothies. Keto smoothies make use of avocado or coconut milk as the base, or have added oils like MCT oil, coconut oil, or can even use macadamia nut oil.

1) Coffee Smoothie

1 ¾ cup brewed coffee (decaf or regular or coffee substitute), cold

1 Tbsp almond butter

1 Tbsp MCT oil

1 scoop grass-fed collagen powder

¼ tsp vanilla extract or vanilla powder

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Stevia to taste

4-6 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients together in a high-powered blender. Enjoy!

2) Green Mint Keto Smoothie

1/2 of a Hass avocado

3/4 cup full fat coconut milk

1/2 cup almond milk

Stevia to taste

5-6 large mint leaves

1 squeeze of lime juice (to taste)

¼ tsp vanilla

1 – 1 1/2 cup ice

Place all ingredients except the ice into a high-speed blender. Blend on low until completely pureed. Then add the ice and blend again. Taste and adjust ingredients to taste. Enjoy!

3) Blue Avocado Smoothie

The post 30+ Keto Recipes to Optimize Your Health Journey appeared first on SelfHacked.

For a comprehensive list of delicious lectin-free recipes check out the Lectin Avoidance Diet Cookbook.

Keto Cauliflower

1) Turmeric Cauliflower Rice Pilaf

1 head of cauliflower (florets only)

1 large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ cup almonds, roughly chopped

2 tsp turmeric

1 tsp black pepper

1-2 Tbsp MCT oil

Chopped parsley for garnish

Wash and cut cauliflower into florets, using the stems for another purpose. Process cauliflower florets in a food processor or high-speed blender in batches until you get a rice-like texture. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onions in coconut oil for about 5 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add in the cauliflower rice and cook over medium for another 5 minutes, until tender. Sprinkle the turmeric and black pepper over the cauliflower rice. Stir until spices are evenly distributed. Add the chopped almonds, stirring and cooking for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add MCT oil. Stir to coat. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Serves 2.

2) Creamed Cabbage & Cauliflower

1 Tbsp coconut oil

3 cups green cabbage, coarsely chopped

2 cups cauliflower florets, quartered

2/3 cup full-fat coconut milk

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Melt coconut oil in large skillet. Saute cabbage and cauliflower over medium heat until cabbage begins to soften. Add coconut milk and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer with cover on, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and sauce is thickened; about 15 minutes. Season and serve. Serves 6.

3) Keto Indian Cauliflower “Rice”

1 head cauliflower

2 Tbsp coconut oil

½ tsp cumin

¼ tsp turmeric

¼ tsp ground ginger

⅛ tsp cardamom

⅛ tsp cinnamon

⅛ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp Himalayan salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1-2 Tbsp MCT oil

3-4 Tbsp chopped cilantro, to garnish

Chop cauliflower into 1 or 2-inch florets. In a food processor or blender, pulse in batches until the cauliflower pieces are about the size of grains of rice. In a large saucepan, heat coconut oil over medium heat. When it is hot, add all the cauliflower “rice”, and cook (stirring occasionally) for 5-8 minutes, or until tender. While it cooks, add all the spices, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat, taste, and adjust seasonings. Add MCT oil and stir to coat. Top with chopped cilantro to taste. Serve with

The post Top 11 Keto Vegan & Vegetarian Recipes appeared first on SelfHacked.

Keto Chicken Recipes

When you eat chicken on a keto diet, you definitely want to keep the skin and go for the darker meats. Boneless skinless chicken breast is not naturally keto; however, you can make it keto by adding a high fat sauce to it. You can also check out the Lectin Avoidance Diet Cookbook to find a wide variety of foods that make eating for people with food sensitivities or just trying to be the healthiest versions of themselves incredibly easy and satisfying.

1) Roasted Chicken with Herb & Mustard Cream Sauce

4 chicken breasts on the bone, skin on

Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Handful fresh sage leaves

A few sprigs of fresh thyme

6 whole garlic cloves

Juice of 1 lemon

For the sauce:

½ cup white wine

½ cup canned, full fat coconut milk

½ cup unsweetened plain almond milk

1 bay leaf

2 sprigs fresh thyme

2 heaped teaspoons whole grain mustard

Spritz of lemon juice

Himalayan salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Season the chicken generously. In a large pan, brown the chicken breasts in a splash of olive oil or coconut oil. Add the herbs and garlic and allow to fry for another minute. Transfer the chicken and herbs to a baking dish and drizzle with the lemon juice. Place in the oven and allow to roast for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through but still juicy. To make the sauce, deglaze the pan you cooked the chicken in with the wine (or alternatively, chicken stock or water). Add the almond milk, coconut milk, bay leaf, thyme, and mustard and allow to simmer for 10 minutes, until slightly reduced. Season with the lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve the sauce with the roasted chicken breasts. Serves 4.

2) German-Inspired Chicken (Schnitzel)

1 cup ground almonds or almond meal

2 lemons

2 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 chicken breast fillets

1 Tbsp arrowroot

1 egg, beaten

In a bowl, combine almonds, the zest of one lemon, and parsley. Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally, to make it thin. Flatten out between 2 pieces of parchment paper using a meat mallet or rolling pin until thin. Coat chicken breast in the arrowroot, and then dip each piece into the egg, followed by the almond meal. Using a little olive oil or coconut oil, cook the schnitzel in a pan over low-to-medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until lightly golden. Serve with a squeeze of

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Keto Beef Recipes

Check out the Lectin Avoidance Diet Cookbook to find many more great recipes using a variety of foods that make eating for people with food sensitivities incredibly easy and delicious!

1) Bacon-Wrapped Steak Bites with Horseradish Dipping Sauce

8 oz sirloin steak

16 pieces of bacon

2 Tbsp fresh horseradish

½ cup Primal Kitchen Mayo

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place the bacon uncovered on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes, to partially cook. Remove from oven and let cool. Meanwhile, cut the steak into 16 bite-sized pieces. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees. Wrap a single piece of bacon around each piece of steak. Put a toothpick through the middle to hold them together.

Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. While they are baking, prepare the horseradish sauce: Peel horseradish and cut into small pieces. Blend horseradish with mayo until smooth. When steak bites are done, remove from the oven and serve immediately with the horseradish dipping sauce. Serves 2-4.

2) Beef Skewers with Chipotle Lime Mayo

1 lbs sirloin steaks, cut into 1-inch cubes

8 bamboo skewers, soaked in water

Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

½ cup Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo

Place beef cubes on skewers and season with salt and pepper. Grill to desired doneness. Serve with Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo. Serves 2-4.

Keto Burgers & Meatballs

When you want to be keto at a restaurant, you can almost always count on hamburgers. Just ask for “bun-less”, extra butter, and have some steamed vegetables instead of french fries or chips. You can even add guacamole if butter is out, or request olive oil be poured over the vegetables.

3) Macadamia Pesto Burgers

1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted

1 cups fresh basil, stems removed

1 garlic cloves

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 ½ lbs ground beef

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Butter lettuce or other leaf lettuce

Tomato and/or avocado slices as desired

First, make

The post Top 10 Keto Ground Beef Recipes appeared first on SelfHacked.

The Ascending Arousal system

• The ascending arousal system has two major branches, which include discrete cell populations and neurotransmitters (R).
• The first branch supplies nerves into the thalamus, activating neurons and nuclei essential for thalamocortical transmission.
• The second branch of the ascending arousal system projects into the lateral hypothalamus, basal forebrain and cerebral cortex (R, R, R).
• It comprises a number of cell populations (including noradrenergic, serotoninergic, dopaminergic and histaminergic neurons), lateral hypothalamic peptidergic neurons (orexin/hypocretin) and the basal forebrain (contains acetylcholine or GABA) (R).
• Neurons in these monoaminergic systems discharge most rapidly during wakefulness, slow down during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and show a little activity during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep (R, R, R). A similar effect is observed with the orexin/hypocretin neurons (R, R).
• In contrast, melatonin-concentrating neurons are strongly active during REM sleep (R).
• In sum, all these systems together discharge in a specific and coordinated manner to promote cortical arousal (R).

The VLPO and the Sleep State

• Sherin et al determined that a group of ventrolateral preoptic neurons is specifically activated during sleep (R).
• The ventrolateral preoptic neuron (VLPO) efferents contain inhibitory neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and galanin, which play a major role in keeping the ascending arousal system quiet during sleep (R, R).
• Neurons of the extended VLPO are connected with the various sites in the brain that are involved in REM sleep.
• While the VLPO cluster provides output to the histaminergic neurons. Histaminergic neurons are active during waking, reduce firing during NREM sleep and stop discharge during REM sleep (R, R).
• Afferent neurons of the monoaminergic arousal system also connect with the VLPO (R).
• Noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and serotonin are all neurotransmitters of wakefulness inhibit VLPO neurons (R). The reciprocal inhibitory interaction of the VLPO neurons with the noradrenergic, serotoninergic and cholinergic waking systems play a key role in regulating sleep (R).
• Experiments in different animals showed that injury to the VLPO cluster and the extended VLPO decreased NREM and REM sleep (R, R).
• A familial advanced sleep phase syndrome (FASPS) mutation in location 2106 (A-G) of epsilon casein kinase 1 (CK1ε)-binding herp2 gene on chromosome 2 results in translocation of serine in amino-acid 662 with a glycine (56624) (R).
• Phenotypes are a set of observable characteristics of

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What is Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor?

Hepatocyte Nuclear factor alpha (HNFa) also known as NR2A1 is a nuclear receptor in humans and is encoded by the HNF4A gene (R).

The regulation of a gene by HNFa in rodents depends on numerous diverse factors such as the developmental stage, the type of tissue, and the environmental conditions (R).

Effects of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNFa) on Health

1) Promotes Stomach Cell Growth

Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNFa) plays a key role in stimulating the development of the cells in the stomach as illustrated by a study done on knockout mice (R).

2) May Regulate Blood Sugar

In the Chinese interplay among Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNFa) and PPARG (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), genes could contribute to the body’s ability to control blood sugar as evidenced by the results after a sugar (glucose) challenge test (R).

Mutation of the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNFa) gene leads to maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), but in a study examining white people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, there was negligible risk identified with the rare variants of this gene (R).

3) Plays a Key Role in Liver Function

Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNFa) protein manages human metabolic enzymes in the liver by modifying other genes (R).

As proteins that work as hormone sensors PPARa (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha) and HNFa are required for the regulation of a number of important metabolic functions within the liver (R).

HNFa increased the production of sugar in old rat liver cells by stimulating regulatory enzymes (R).

4) Controls the Spread of Kidney Cancer

Declining HNFa gene levels have been implicated in kidney cancer and HNFa is in control of how these cells multiply by regulating fourteen different genes involved in the start of cancer development (R).

5) Encourages Healthy Drug Metabolism

HNFa in human liver cells directs the activation of proteins found within cells (PXR and CAR) which helps foster

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What is Farnesoid-X receptor (FXR)?

The Farnesoid-X receptor (FXR) also known as bile acid receptor (BAR) or NR1H4 (nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group H, member 4) is a nuclear receptor that is encoded by the NR1H4 gene in humans [R].

This hormone receptor is responsible for the homeostasis of bile acids, lipids, and glucose [R].

FXR maintains homeostasis in bile acids, lipids, and glucose by regulating a diverse array of genes involved in bile acid, lipid, and glucose metabolism [R].

FXR plays a crucial role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids as well as the regulation of insulin sensitivity. It is found in high amounts in the liver, intestines, and kidney [R].

Effects of FXR

1) Protects the Liver and Supports the Metabolism of Bile Acids 

In the liver, Farnesoid X Receptor regulates bile acid synthesis, conjugation, and transport [R].

FXR also regulates the expression of bile acid-CoA synthetase (BACS) and bile acid-CoA amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAT) which increase the solubility of bile acids [R].

According to one research study FXRs [R].

• modulates growth and regeneration during a liver injury
• protect against cholestasis-induced liver injury (flow of bile from liver stops or decreases)
• activation increases glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity in the liver

Farnesoid X receptor plays a crucial role in liver triglyceride homeostasis and protects against fatty liver injury in animal models of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [R].

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, OCA (an FXR agonist) administration decreased alkaline phosphatase levels in patients when compared to the placebo group [R].

2) Effects of FXR on Lipid and Glucose Metabolism 

FXR regulates various aspects of lipid and glucose metabolism [R].

In a study with individuals given FXR activators, high-density lipoprotein levels decreased and low-density lipoprotein levels increased [R]. This demonstrated that bile acids regulate lipid homeostasis indirectly through FXR activation.

In a diabetes study done with mice, activation of FXR resulted in reduced plasma glucose levels and increased insulin sensitivity [R].

FXR also influences insulin sensitivity of tissues that are not part of the bile circulation like the adipose tissue [R].

Animals with drug-induced diabetes show a decrease of FXR gene

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5-HT7 receptors (5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 7)

Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a chemical in the human body that is responsible for carrying signals along and between nerves. It is mainly found in the intestines, the brain, and the blood. Since its discovery in the 1940s, serotonin has been shown to be involved in almost every cognitive and behavioral human function including sleep, appetite, mood, aggression, pain, perception, and sexual behavior [R].

The function of serotonin is regulated by several different proteins, one of them being the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 7 (5-HT7 receptor). The 5-HT7 receptor has only recently been discovered and is the least studied serotonin-related protein [R].

The 5-HT7 receptors have been detected in the central nervous system (CNS) areas of the human brain, and more specifically in the regions known as thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus [R]. According to a series of studies that have been carried out using animal models, the presence of the 5-HT7 receptors within those brain regions demonstrate their implication in higher brain functions such as cognition, learning capability, memory, and perception. The receptors also play an important role in the circadian rhythm, our internal 24-hour clock that controls the sleep/wake cycle, but also in mood regulation, pain transmission and control of body temperature [R, R, R]. Interestingly, 5-HT7 receptors are also involved in the relaxation of smooth muscle cells of the circulatory system, the intestines and the reproductive system [R].

Taking into account the involvement of the 5-HT7 receptors in so many physiological processes it is not hard for one to see that the malfunction of those receptors could result in a series of health problems. The diseases that have been linked to 5-HT7 receptors are briefly presented below.

Mood disorders – Anxiety and Depression

A series of studies that have been conducted using animal models demonstrated a strong link between the 5-HT7 receptors and the development of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It has been shown that the administration of drugs that block the function of 5-HT7 receptors can reduce the levels of anxiety and depression. Additionally, the administration of those drugs in combination with other antidepressants increases their effect on treating depression [R, R, R].

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

A large number of studies have established that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are caused by a deficiency in the brain serotonin system [R]. The link between the 5-HT7 receptors and ASD is not very clear. However, their association to behavioral flexibility, repetitive and stereotypic behaviors,

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