Fitness And Health » Health and Fitness

Breville Juicer Review, The Best Juicer

follett79 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:56:26 +0000

: Breville Juicer

If you haven’t started juicing you need to. Here are some reasons that you should be juicing.

Juicing is an easy way to provide yourself with a high level of quality nutrition. Here I will talk about the properties of juicing that makes it so potent, and the health benefits that it can provide. It is a practice taken up by many people who are health conscious, who claim how great it is. So what is it about juicing we all rave about?

Well, there are 3 main reasons why juicing is so beneficial :

The juice requires hardly any digestion, so all its nutritional goodness gets rapidly into your system.
When you juice, you use more fruits and vegetables than you could actually eat. As a result, you are drinking a densely packed amount of vitamins, minerals and other plant-based nutrients.
Liver detoxification

This is a great juicer. One of the big problems with juicers is the limited size of fruits and vegetables that you can put into the hopper. As you can see from the picture that is not a problem with this Breville Juicer with it’s 3″ feed tube. If you have faced frustration of juicers in the past then this is the one that you need to try.

Click here for more information.

Insomnia Symptoms

follett79 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:11:20 +0000

Insomnia Symptoms

If you are suffering sleepless nights, you are not alone. Insomnia affects most people from time to time but if you constantly experience it then you need to find answers.
Surely you have heard people claim that they had a horrible time sleeping last night, but imagine if it were like that night after night, month after month. Although the symptoms can vary the main symptom of insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep. This has to be over a period of at least one month as well to be considered chronic. Chronic insomnia can be especially dangerous too, not just for the health of the person who has the insomnia but for many other reasons. Consider, stress, depression, and mental illness will either be the reason for or the result of insomnia.

The daytime symptoms associated with insomnia are also of great concern as the insomniac will have a very low ability to concentrate which can be very dangerous depending on if they operate an automobile or what type of job that they have. Motor coordination is impaired; there is an evident inability to interact socially, and an increased risk of being involved in an auto accident.

Chronic insomnia effects each and every part of a persons day. They can not perform adequately at work or in any part of their life in general. They are constantly tired and fatigued. This in turn affects their personality and overall judgment. Insomnia is classified into three different groups: transient which lasts for only a few nights, intermittent which are episodes of insomnia, and chronic which is someone who has experienced insomnia on most nights for at least one month. As a result this is extremely dangerous when considering health and emotional well being.

The symptoms of insomnia include trouble falling asleep, experiencing restless sleep, in which you wake frequently throughout the night and then have trouble falling back asleep, waking up way too early in the morning, and feeling tired and un-refreshed after they do wake up. People want to know what they are doing wrong and why it is that they are having this difficulty. The answer to that is that there are many, many factors that could be to blame but some of the most common causes are stress, anxiety, and depression. However, a doctor should be seen in case there are any medical related problems that are causing the insomnia. This is never a time doe assumption when it comes to your health and well being.

The list is plentiful and those are not the only causes, they are just the main causes. Often people need to reduce their intake of caffeine, drinking too much alcohol, napping during the day, changes in your surroundings and sleep schedule, noise, and in particular, medication. Insomnia statistics are actually quite mind-boggling as about half of all Americans will face some form of insomnia throughout their lifetime.

So when it becomes clear that more than just a few nights have passed and one has not gotten a good night’s sleep, then is the time to address the issue before it blazes out of control. This should be done before that person and their loved ones have to suffer.

In order to overcome sleeplessness, people may use sleeping pills or relaxation techniques, such as meditation. Achieve a sense of being well rested through cognitive behavioral techniques with help from a psychologist in this free video on overcoming sleeplessness.

Playing It Safe With Artificial Sweeteners

follett79 — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:34:48 +0000

If you have read any of Dr Atkins books about weight loss you probably know that he thought that all artificial sweeteners were not only dangerous but counter productive. It seems they set off the same insulin producing reaction in your body as real sweeteners and cause your body to store fat.

Millions of Americans count on artificial sweeteners to help them cut back on calories. However, there are conflicting reports about these sugar substitutes’ effectiveness and safety. To help you make the best choices for you and your family, here are some things you should know.

Understanding the Facts About Artificial Sweeteners

1. Consider using Stevia. This natural herbal ingredient is classified as a dietary supplement rather than an artificial sweetener. While the FDA hasn’t approved Stevia as a sweetener, the plant itself has been used for centuries in South America and Japan.

2. Stay up to date on research. With so many of these substances in widespread use, they’re constantly in testing. There’s always something new to learn about them, and sometimes experimental results are surprising.

* A recent trial by the University of Texas found that diet soft drink users experienced 70 percent greater increases in waist circumference compared with non-users.

* A related study also found that aspartame raised blood sugar in diabetes-prone mice.

3. Artificial sweeteners may alter your body’s natural signals. Some studies suggest that sugar substitutes may confuse our bodies. Throughout most of human history, we could usually count on sweet foods to be heavy eating. Our bodies would let us know when we were eating too much. Now, however, things are different.

* It seems that humans may now be less sensitive to sensory clues that indicate which foods are fattening or unhealthy. This means that we may find it challenging to tell when we’ve had enough sugar. We may likewise have difficulty determining how much of any sweetener is too much.

* Although there’s no research definitively linking this tendency to the use of artificial sweeteners, speculation is rampant in the medical community. Expect to see quite a few published studies in the next few years.

Using Artificial Sweeteners Safely

1. Eat a balanced diet. Whether you eat sugar or substitutes, be sure to leave room for nutrient dense foods. Eat plenty of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and some healthy fats.

2. Be realistic about calorie savings. It takes just 3,500 calories to gain a pound of body weight. That’s about 5 large servings of French fries a year. So if you switch to a diet food or drink to allow indulging elsewhere, avoid going overboard.

* Read labels carefully. Sugar-free foods may still be high in calories and fat. Examine the label to find out what you’re really eating.

3. Watch out for adverse reactions. If you experience side effects like headaches and upset stomachs when using an artificial sweetener, stop using the sweetener to see if your symptoms clear up.

4. Use sweeteners mindfully. Another good thing about sugar substitutes is that they can often be used in tiny quantities. Taste your food first so you add only as much as you need.

5. Cut back on sweets gradually. If you have trouble eating just one potato chip, you’ve seen firsthand how eating a lot of sweets and fats tends to make you crave more sweets and fats. If you want to cut down, do it a step at a time. For example, substitute berries for half of your regular bowl of ice cream.

6. Learn to love other flavors. Train yourself to appreciate flavors other than sweets. Put something new in your salad like tart okra or bitter radicchio.

7. Talk with your doctor. Discuss any questions you have about artificial sweeteners with your physician. This is especially important if you’re trying to lose weight for medical reasons or if you need to manage diabetes.

Knowing the facts about artificial sweeteners enables you to make informed decisions. Keeping up with current research and being smart about using these sugar substitutes will benefit you in many ways.

Use these sweetners sparingly if at all but now you know the rest of the story.

Healthy Eating, Why You Should Avoid Soy

follett79 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:05:45 +0000

Not so many years ago Soy was promoted as a way to provide cheap high quality proten in our diets. It was the healthy food that would save the planet from the problems producing animal protein and other high cost foods. Now it turns out that soy is not the best stuff. Read more…

Dangers of Soy

Thankfully, more and more independent research has been done regarding the dangers of soy, and what it’s revealed should scare you.

Phytoestrogens

Soy is higher in phytoestrogens than just about any other food source. Phytoestrogens are plant-based estrogens that mimic estrogen in our bodies. In recent years, you may have read about studies which indicate phytoestrogens are good for you. But ask yourself, who funded those studies? The soy industry, that’s who. Independent research has clearly shown that consuming phytoestrogens is downright dangerous for the human body.

It’s only common sense. No one argues, for example, that a leading cause of breast cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, infertility, and low libido is unopposed estrogen, or estrogen dominance. Why, then, would anyone argue that we should consume more of a food high in estrogen?

An infant taking the recommended amount of soy formula is consuming a hormone load equivalent of 4 birth control pills a day! Is it any wonder we’ve seen such a dramatic rise in precocious puberty with young girls starting their periods at 6 and 7?

Goitrogenic

Soy will destroy your thyroid. Many foods are goitrogenic (thyroid suppressing), but soy is king of them all. Goitrogens work by preventing your thyroid from getting the necessary amount of iodine. Friends, I believe this is what happened to Oprah’s thyroid. She pushed soy for years, featured it in everyone one of her “healthy” diets, and it destroyed her thyroid. If your thyroid fails, what happens? You gain weight. You have a harder time regulating your moods. You get colder more easily. You’re more easily fatigued. You demonstrate an inability to concentrate and remember details. The list goes on. You simply don’t want to mess with your thyroid.

Phytates

Phytates are enzyme-inhibitors that block mineral absorption in human digestive tract. They are naturally present in all grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes (which is why everyone should read this primer on how to eat grains, if you eat them at all.) But soy is so high in phytates that it’s almost impossible to get rid of them. Simply soaking soy overnight in an acidic medium won’t do the trick. Soy must be fermented in order to be digestible to humans. That means that if you eat soy at all, you should stick to fermented soy products like miso, tempeh, natto, or a naturally fermented soy sauce (tamari).

Trypsin inhibitors

Finally soy is rich in trypsin inhibitors. Trypsin is a digestive enzyme we need to properly digest protein. Without enough trypsin, you’ll experience many digestive problems including stomach cramps, diarrhea, and bleeding. You’ll also be leaving yourself open to future problems with your pancreas.

Healthy Living: Four Small Diet Changes With a Big Impact

follett79 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:53:56 +0000

Eat For Energy

Looking for more energy? Small changes in your diet may produce the results you are looking for. Don’t eat too much and perhaps break your meals down into smaller-multiple meals. Overloading your digestive system is a big energy sink. Follow these tips for best results.

Are you at your wit’s end with diets that haven’t produced results worth talking about? You might find one that lets you lose a couple of pounds, but then they come right back. So where has that gotten you? Unfortunately, right back where you started.

The good news is you can very easily make some changes that will let you get off that diet roller coaster for good!

Try these four small diet changes that pack a lot of punch:

1. Make H2O your beverage of choice. Even the beverages that claim to have zero sugar are often loaded with calories or unhealthy chemicals! Replace those beverages with pure water and you’ll start to notice changes in how you feel and look almost instantly!

* Give your water a kick by squeezing some fresh lime juice into each glass you drink.

* Try not to quit sugared drinks cold turkey or you may end up feeling deprived. Instead, treat yourself to a soda or fruit beverage at the end of each week if you met your daily water consumption targets.

* Drinking a glass of water before meals also helps you to feel full quicker so you don’t eat as much food.

2. Cut down your portions. It’s possible to cut portion sizes without leaving the table feeling hungry. Sometimes, timing makes all the difference:

* A plan that may work well for you is to eat five times a day – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks in between. Have small portions so your total daily consumption still falls within your recommended caloric intake.

* When you eat so often, your body never has a chance to feel really hungry, so you’re not as tempted to eat large portions.

3. Switch snacks. While it’s important to indulge in comfort from time to time, you may want to assess whether the snacks you’re eating are the healthiest options.

* For example, if you like candy bars, try replacing them with cereal bars, fruit or fruit salad, yogurt, Jell-O with fruit, frozen fruit bars, and other snacks with less sugar and fat. Fruit is nature’s candy – you’ll still get to satisfy your craving for sweets, but in a healthier way.

* If you prefer crunchy snacks like chips, opt for crunchy raw veggies or nuts.

* One trick that works is to prepare snacks ahead of time so they’re ready whenever you’re hungry for a quick snack. Cut up celery, carrots, and broccoli into easy “grab and eat” portions. Cut up several kinds of fruits, make tasty fruit salads with melons, grapes, berries and more, and store in portion-sized sealed containers.

4. Skip the sides. Sides like potato salad, macaroni and cheese and stuffing could be your downfall. While you’re allowed to indulge a little, remember that these have the highest caloric values. Eat only small amounts of these sides while you fill up on the meats, vegetables, and fruits for dessert.

If you adapt these simple diet changes, it will just be a matter of time before you see remarkable changes in your fitness. Your body will respond automatically because you’ll be treating it to the things it loves – healthy alternatives!

So instead of jumping from one fad diet to the other in search of the best fitness and weight loss results, try making some simple changes to how and what you eat. Not only will you look better and get the results you’re looking for, but you’ll also feel better throughout the course of each day. Give it a try and see for yourself!

Learn to eat to boost your energy. Click here to find out more.

Chocolate And Brain Health, Can Chocolate Really Improve Your Mind?

follett79 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:59:51 +0000

A recent study shows that a cocoa-derived extract can actually improve brain performance. Dr. Marcus Laux is a distinguished naturopathic physician and author. He says researchers have found that certain compounds in chocolate cause the brain to release endorphins, chemicals that make us feel good. It turns out the right kind of dark chocolate can do a lot more than satisfy a sweet tooth!

The USDA Food Pyramid: Is It Making Us Fat?

follett79 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:51:11 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

More and more nutritionists agree that our food pyramid with it’s emphases on bread and grains is wrong.

Fruits and vegetables should provide the largest block of the pyramid. It is what we are seeing with every study that comes out. The Mayo Clinic healthy eating tips recognize that as well. So when will the USDA officially adopt a healthier view of food and educate our children and stop bowing to corporate agriculture interests which is making us fat?

The Fatally Flawed Food Pyramid

by Jon Herring 12/16/2009

My nephew and I were having a great time at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville last week. We shot bottle rockets up a zip line with compressed air. We learned about the power of levers, by pulling on a rope to lift a car. And I protected him from the hungry animatronic dinosaurs when we passed through the cretaceous period (He wasn’t convinced that they were not going to eat him whole).

I was really impressed with the museum. They do a great job of teaching science in a way that is interactive and memorable. But not every exhibit is based on hard science. I learned that when we got to the wing dedicated to the human body, health and nutrition.

If my nephew followed the recommendations he was supposed to learn at the museum, he would end up fat and sick as an adult, like much of the population is today.

The nutrition exhibit began with a bin full of different-shaped objects. There were five different shapes, and each one represented different types of food. The objective was to toss these “foods” into an open “mouth” and then proceed through the exhibit to learn how they are broken down and utilized by the body.

But the foods were supposed to go in the mouth in a certain ratio. You didn’t want to feed the body too much junk. The exhibit called it “your recipe for a healthy body.” Here are the five kinds of foods we were supposed to “pitch in,” along with the basic amounts:

Fruits and vegetables (Heaping helpings)
Breads & Grains (Lots of these)
Dairy (A few of these)
Meats, Beans and Nuts (And a few of those)
Fats, oils, and sugars (Just a pinch)

I agree with the advice to pitch in heaping helpings of fruits and vegetables. There is abundant scientific evidence that fruits and vegetables are the foundation of health and proper nutrition.

But what about the idea that “lots” of breads and grains are “your recipe for a healthy body”? Is that based on science too? And what about the idea that all fats get lumped in with sugar, with the advice to consume “just a pinch?” Shouldn’t there be a distinction between healthy fats and those that are unhealthy?

You might ask – as I did at one time – where these misguided and incomplete recommendations came from. Did they emanate from the halls of science? Not exactly.

Consider the Food Pyramid, promoted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This infographic is where the idea that we all need to eat 6-11 servings of grains every day gained real traction. It became the basis of our national nutrition policy and the party line for government licensed “registered dieticians.”

The Food Pyramid, as it was originally designed, would have been a tremendous benefit to public health. But the original design and the one released to the public were two very different creations. This is the story of…

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The Food Pyramid You Never Got to See

In the early 1980’s, nutrition expert Luise Light, MS, Ed.D., was teaching at New York University when she was recruited to work for the Department of Agriculture. As the director of Dietary Guidance and Nutrition Education Research, Light was asked to create a new Food Guide. The idea was to replace the “Basic Four Food Groups” with something fresh and more memorable.

Luise Light and her team developed the concept of the “Food Pyramid”. Her version of the food pyramid promoted a diet based on fruits and vegetables. Lean meats and fish came next. And grains were placed near the top, where only limited amounts were recommended. As an expert in nutrition, Light knew that the body processes breads, cereals and starchy foods just like sugar.

That is how the Food Pyramid was originally submitted to the authorities within the USDA. The USDA loved the idea of the Food Pyramid. And they were thrilled with the simplicity of the design. But when Light saw “her” pyramid in its final form, she was shocked.

Dedicated to Health and Prosperity (of the Food Industry)

When the Food Pyramid was released to the public, the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture had made drastic changes to it. These changes had nothing to do with improving nutrition – and everything to do with improving the profits of the food industry!

Crackers, baked goods and low-nutrient processed foods were taken from the top of the pyramid and moved to the base, where they were to make up the bulk of the American diet. The team’s recommendation of 2 to 4 servings of whole-grain breads and cereals was nixed. The “new” Pyramid called for 6-11 servings of bread, cereals and pasta. No doubt, these changes pleased the corn, wheat and packaged food industries.

Subtle changes were also made to Light’s wording to emphasize processed foods over whole foods and change recommendations such as “eat less” to “avoid too much.”

Over her strenuous objections, the Food Guide Pyramid was finalized and approved.
Luise Light recently wrote, “The health consequences of encouraging the public to eat so much refined grain, which the body processes like sugar, was frightening.” At the time, she made it clear to the USDA that their version of the Food Pyramid would lead to an epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

And that is exactly what has happened. Welcome to America 2009!

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), two out of three Americans are overweight or obese. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that the number of children who are overweight has doubled in the last two and a half decades. And not surprisingly, heart disease and diabetes are now the first and the sixth leading causes of death.

So What About the “New” Food Pyramid?

In 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed a brand-new Food Guide Pyramid. While the previous pyramid was flawed in its recommendations, at least it was easy to understand.

The new one is a confusing mess. It’s divided into six color-coded vertical wedges. Each one represents a different food category, although the graphic does not make it easy to recognize what that category is. The wider the wedge, the more of that category you are supposed to eat. There is also a stick figure running up a set of stairs to represent exercise.

Besides the enigmatic design, the new pyramid has a major problem. It appears that it is meant to convince us that there are no foods that should be completely avoided.

So as not to make any foods “off-limits,” the new guidelines suggest that you allow for “discretionary calories.” These could include sweetened cereals, bakery products, and sugar-added beverages. Some people might call this “junk food.”

They also suggest that you “make half your grains whole.” Another way to say the same thing: “Half your grains should be refined, processed, and void of nutrition.” That might be a boon to the food processing industry, but it is poor advice for the sake of your health.

The new guidelines fail in another important respect. They do little to distinguish between good fats and bad fats. And even here, the recommendations are toothless. The Institute of Medicine has declared that there is “no safe level” of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (trans-fats) that you can consume. But the new Food Pyramid simply suggests that you “cut back on trans-fats” if you want to lower your risk of heart disease.

Some groups, such as the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), say the Food Guide Pyramid is simply a reflection of the financial interests of food and farming groups. They contend that the USDA is held hostage by the industries they supposedly regulate.

It doesn’t help that the new pyramid was designed by a PR firm that has also represented McDonald’s and the Snack Food Association. The PCRM actually filed suit against the USDA because six of the 11 members of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee have financial ties to the food industry.

Of course, the USDA claims there are no such conflicts of interest. But all it takes is one look at food subsidies to uncover this whopper.

Uncle Sam: Subsidizing a Junk Food Nation

The USDA heavily subsidizes corn and soybean growers, who receive the bulk of the $15 billion annual farm subsidies. Besides animal feed, two of the top uses for these crops are for the production of corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. These are two of the most notorious killers in the food supply – ingredients for which the USDA recommends only “limited” consumption. The USDA also heavily subsidizes sugar, wheat and rice.

On the other hand, do you know how much fruit and vegetable farmers receive in subsidies? According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, these farmers receive no subsidies at all.

In his excellent book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan comments on the health effects of U.S. farm policy. “When you go to the grocery store,” Pollan writes, “You find that the cheapest calories are the ones that are going to make you the fattest – the added sugars and fats in processed foods.”

Pollan concludes that the correlation between poverty and obesity is directly tied to agricultural subsidies. Is it any wonder that we have become a junk food nation?

How About a Real Food Pyramid?

Given the very poor state of health and nutrition in this country, what we need from the Department of Agriculture is a clear message about what it means to eat a healthy diet. Our population needs advice about nutrition that is not beholden to special interests.

But that will be a long time coming from the USDA. After all, their core responsibility is not to provide nutritious food for all Americans. Rather, it is to help market and promote U.S. agricultural products – especially those products with the most lobbying dollars behind them.

Keep an eye on Total Health Breakthroughs. In the next few weeks, we will produce a real food pyramid – one that that is simple, straightforward and health promoting. In the meantime, f ill your plate with colorful, organic plant foods. Eat lots of healthy fats. Choose meats that are produced without antibiotics and hormones and that are raised on their natural diet. Select fish that are not contaminated by mercury and PCBs, such as wild Alaskan salmon and sardines. And avid added sugars, grains and high-glycemic carbohydrates. This might not do much to promote the financial health of the grain and processed food industries… but it will go a long way to promoting your personal health.

Jon Herring
Editorial Director
Total Health Breakthroughs

This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs which offers alternative health solutions for mind, body and soul.

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Fitness And Health » Health and Fitness

Breville Juicer Review, The Best Juicer

Insomnia Symptoms

Playing It Safe With Artificial Sweeteners

Healthy Eating, Why You Should Avoid Soy

Healthy Living: Four Small Diet Changes With a Big Impact

Chocolate And Brain Health, Can Chocolate Really Improve Your Mind?

The USDA Food Pyramid: Is It Making Us Fat?

The Fatally Flawed Food Pyramid

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