Archive for the 'Healthy Eating' Category
After graduating college, my wife and I found jobs in back in our hometown. Many of our old friends were still around the area, and we got into our old habits of hanging out late into the night. Eventually that lifestyle started to catch up with me. I was still eating the unhealthy foods that had been a staple of my collegiate diet, and I hadn’t curtailed my drinking much either.
Everything changed when we started planning to have a family. I had never found adequate reasons to eat healthy before, always reasoning that I was in control of my own life and could do what I wanted. Suddenly, with kids to think about, I understood a new responsibility to live better. These days I’ve really cleaned up my act in every way imaginable and I’m looking forward to meeting my grandchildren some day.
The ultimate Multi-Tasker, a Multi-Vitamin.
Everyone hears sound bites and scientific studies surrounding a particular vitamin (nutrients) and the benefits it may have on health and longevity. It is great to understand the positive impact specific vitamins have on improving ones health because it gives us greater awareness to not only the importance of healthy eating habits, it can also give us a better understanding of what to eat to insure getting the proper daily intake of nutrients.
The information unfortunately does not always give us the greater understanding of how our bodies absorb and utilize the nutrient (vitamin). And the synergistic need to have other vitamin supplements present at the same time to have the body utilize it properly.
Synergy……A word to remember because a high quality nutrient dense Whole Food Vitamin is the answer. The best suppliers of multi-vitamins know this and there formulas take this into consideration. Some Multi-Vitamin formulas will also include herbs that support life style and age related needs. That is why a Whole Food based Multi-Vitamin should be the core nutrient supplement of choice. Multi-Vitamin “Synergy” the ultimate Multi-Tasker.
Fall has fell and the chill is in the morning air. It’s a great time to start thinking about that old favorite cold weather breakfast to start your day off right, Hot Cereal. Whether your favorite is Cream of Barley or Hot Steal Cut Oatmeal it is a great way to kick off your day. Don’t forget to add some of your favorite fall berries and a scoop of fresh yogurt adding a delicious flavor and important nutrients.
To add an extra nutrient kick try adding a generous scope of Super Green Food Powder to the mix. It adds not only a great taste it is also a great energy booster, gives you digestive support, and kicks up your immune system to help prepare you for the coming cold and flu season.
Most Super Green Food Powders are formulated to give you the maximum benefits of natural whole food ingredients such as active enzymes, antioxidants, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals, fiber, protein, amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, and chlorophyll. Wow now that is a kicked up power house way to start your day. Be sure when choosing a Super Green Food Powder to get an organic formula whenever possible.
Omega 3 Fatty acids are particularly beneficial to men’s health. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are part of the membrane of every cell in the body; they’re also the building blocks of hormones that govern much of the body’s physiology. A low intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and low circulating levels of DHA, are associated with prostate cancer, BPH or enlarged prostate, and prostatitis. Increasing consumption of Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in fish as well as flax, hemp, pumpkin, and nuts such as walnuts can help reduce the risk associated with low Omega 3 dietary intake.
Although Omega-3 can be obtained from other sources other than fish, fish is still considered the richest and most plentiful source for Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Unfortunately too many Americans just don’t like the taste of the oily, fatty fish – such as mackerel, tuna, sardines, or wild salmon – that are rich in Omega-3’s. Others eat the wrong fish – for example, fish sticks or other white fish – which has a negligible impact on their Omega-3 level and may actually raise their omega-6 levels which is associated with inflammation and other health problems when out of balance with Omega 3’s.
However the good news is, supplements can fill the gap. Fish oil oral supplements have an important role in restoring the desired balance of Omega 3’s in your diet. They are affordable, convenient and lower the risk of heavy metal contamination found in so many of the preferred fish sources.
Growing up, I couldn’t help but internalize the importance of a “balanced breakfast.” Cold cereal commercials were always advertising the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Still, I went to school on an empty stomach because I just couldn’t muster up an appetite before noon. My studies suffered considerably, and the trend continued until I finally took action.
I read about the importance of getting one’s metabolism going early in the day, and that the best way to do it was to eat a small breakfast. Protein bars were simple and convenient enough to eat on the go, and I suddenly found myself more energized and alert in the mornings. I know you can’t believe everything you see on TV, but I wish I would have paid more attention to those commercials as a kid.
New research from China adds to a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that getting more omega-3 fats and less omega-6s may reduce your cancer risk. Vanderbilt researchers analyzed data on 73,242 Chinese women in the Shanghai Women’s Health Study. They found that women with the highest ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s were nearly twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer as those with the lowest ratio.
What is the answer? Reduce dietary intake of omega 6 which is found in greatest amounts in foods such as poultry dark meat and organ meats, and also comes from eggs. Research suggests that Omega 6 an essential fatty acid, more specifically arachidonic acid may promote inflammation that’s associated with cancer.
Getting more Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, halibut and other marine life such as algae and krill, also certain plants and nut oils has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers. In addition omega-3 fatty acids also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent risk factors associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. There is a wide variety of Omega 3 supplements available that can be taken as a convenient and great alternative to assure you are getting enough Omega 3 in your daily diet. This also reduces the risk of consuming mercury and other heavy metals associated with eating to much of fish. So make sure you purchase supplements that are certified mercury free.
Great news for all you Snacker’s out there and Veggie Naysayers, according to a new University of Scranton research study: Whole-grain cereals and Whole-grain snacks also contain surprisingly high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, rivaling such well-known antioxidant sources as fruits and vegetables.
Now I am not implying that this is a cue not to eat healthy just an opportunity to be OK with a good healthy whole-grain snack such as a whole-grain protein bar to get you through to the next wholesome meal. They are convenient, affordable and can help you avoid the pit falls of the fast food restaurant fix when on the go. Whole-grain protein bars are the fast food that won’t slow you down. Look for naturally sweetened snack bar choices with no hydrogenated oil or artificial ingredients, they are not only better for you, dollar for dollar they are a better bargain. So munch away guilt free.
Over the past few weeks as I open the internet health news pages the redundant articles on the swine Flu is about all you see. Get a Flu shot is the solution to this alleged pandemic. The Alarmist’s out cries with predictions of unprecedented absences at schools this fall would give anyone the blues, and drive people to get a Flu shot. Has anyone noticed in the past years before this “Scary Pig Flu” arrived on the scene that people that get a Flu vaccination still get sick anyway? If not from a reaction to the shot, they contract a different strain of the Flu. There is no one size fits all Flu Shot and it does not guarantee that you will not get the Flu. And the statistics of illness and morbidity rate from the Flu are not accurate as they are bundled with other illnesses such as pneumonia and pre-existing conditions.
Now I am not saying that this vaccination does not have a place and a use for the elderly and immune compromised it may be appropriate. What has me all annoyed with all this hoop-la is the only option the media gives you is a profit driven vaccination.
No one is talking or writing about prevention through healthy lifestyle choices, especial during the Flu season. Wow what a novel Idea.
How about taking this opportunity to educate people on healthier food choices that boost the immune system. Fortifying the immune system with a good multivitamin for added nutritional insurance. Letting people know about the benefits of taking an extra serving of daily Super Green Food. Getting a little more rest and stay hydrated. All of these suggestions are backed by decades of scientific validation for their health benefits along with keeping you healthy. Even being isolated on an island can’t guarantee you won’t contract the Flu but proper prevention through dietary solutions will give you better odds. And if you do become ill it will help fight off the virus and speed recovery. Besides, good healthy foods taste better and is lot more enjoyable than vaccine shots.
With all the hoop-la about protein these days from the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet to the high protein hype for building muscle and losing weight Amino Acids ARE the real hero that seems to have been forgotten, lost in the fanfare of protein. Amino acids, are the forgotten hero because protein is not protein without them and without a complete protein profile it is just that, incomplete. It is like walking around with just one shoe on, one is good but not great it is incomplete and half functional.
Amino acids play central roles both as building blocks of proteins and as intermediates in metabolism. The 20 amino acids that are found within proteins convey a vast array of chemical versatility and combine to making a complete protein. The precise amino acid content, and the sequence of those amino acids, of a specific protein, is determined by the sequence of the bases in the gene that encodes that protein. The chemical properties of the amino acids of proteins determine the biological activity of the protein. Proteins not only catalyze all (or most) of the reactions in living cells, they control virtually all cellular process. In addition, proteins contain within their amino acid sequences the necessary information to determine how that protein will fold into a three dimensional structure, and the stability of the resulting structure.
In brief Amino Acids are the chemical units or “building blocks” of proteins that make up the components of the body . Amino Acids the real Hero of healthy tissue that combine to make protein and protein substances make up the muscles, tendons, organs, glands, nails, and hair. Growth, repair and maintenance of all cells are dependent upon them. Next to water, protein (amino acids) makes up the greatest portion of our body weight.
So the next time you have that chicken salad or your favorite protein shake give a little nod and smile for the 20 amino acids that have created such a tasty and healthy body moment.
Watch for more on the Amino Hero’s in the Future.
When it comes to sugar Americans consume more sugar per day than any other country in the world.
At an average of 22.2 teaspoons per day caring about 355 extra calories it is nearly three times the recommended dietary amount based on the American Heart Assoc. guidelines. But wait it may not be the fault of the average consumer. Much of the sugar that shows up in our average daily food consumption comes from surprisingly unexpected places.
Take for example the health conscious buyer that shops for low fat products and buys “Reduced” fat salad dressings. Trying to cut down on saturated fats, one would think that this would be a good choice. However on a closer look we find that a one-cup serving of reduced-calorie French dressing heaps on 58 grams of added sugar, reduced-fat coleslaw dressing hits a home run with 103 grams of added sugar. Now we know that the average person does not use a whole cup of dressing on their salad but on average a quarter of a cup say 4 ounces. That will pour on 14 to 25 grams of sugar or 4 to 7 teaspoons. Over the course of a day these hidden sugars really add up. Hey how about some “healthy” dried cranberries? Commercial products are usually sweetened with sugar and on average a whopping 25 grams of sugar per cup of fruit another 7 teaspoons.
What’s the answer?
Along with good uncommon sense shopping such as buying fresh unprocessed foods READ THE INGREDIENT LABEL. Avoid being ripped off by miss leading labels, don’t rely on the sound bite on the front of the label. That’s why knowing what is really in the product and staying informed to understand what these ingredients are is so important. After all your health depends on it and it is not the marketing company’s priority. Look for healthy snacks and products that are sweetened with fruit juice or nothing at all including artificial sweeteners.